Crystal View today announced plans to debut a new two-piece front projection system at the upcoming 2003 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, January 9 –12. The two-piece front projection system consists of two separate components --an optics head which houses the cathode ray tubes (CRTs), and a base unit, which incorporates the video connections. Both units are connected via a cable.

Faroudja has just announced a new, all-inclusive Faroudja Digital Projector (FDP) Package called the FDP. The FDP Package combines the critical components required to deliver state-of-the-art digital picture quality in an all-in-one package that also offers excellent ease of use and installation. The package contains an optimized and aligned 1365 x 1024 D-ILA projector, a Faroudja-customized anamorphic lens for dynamic projection, a custom “Hush Box” for soundproofing, and either a Digital Cinema Source (NRS-DCS) Processor or a Native Rate Series (NRS) Processor.

In the wake of Vidikron’s parent company pulling the plug on the financing of that project (read story here) Gary Guidi, President of HI-REZ Projections, Inc. has entered into a partnership agreement with David Wolff, former General Manager of Vidikron of America, to market their own line of CRT front projection systems under the Crystal View brand name. This line will compete directly in the cost-no-object, high performance CRT video projector market along with the likes of Runco, SIM2 Seleco, Madrigal Imaging and another Vidikron spin-off, Accurate Imaging, lead by Vidikron’s long time VP of International Sales, James Wellinitz.

Madrigal’s attempt at making a high-end, fixed pixel video projector has hit a big bump in the road. Madrigal contracted with JVC’s Professional division to be an OEM client for JVC’s D-ILA technology and chipset for use in the Madrigal Imaging MPD-1 D-ILA video projector. Madrigal took a similar approach to the MPD-1 that they do with their audio gear including hand choosing the top performing chipsets and tweaking the performance specifically with regards to the contrast.

Led by the former president of Vidikron and a respected AV dealer from Phoenix, Accurate Imaging Technologies is the newest player in the world of high-end video. The new company will specialize in the sales and support of high-performance video systems for the home theater market, as well as consumer interface solutions. Its product lineup will include high-performance video projectors, digital video image processors, leading-edge DVD players and a unique modular projection system.