Toshiba Announces Expanded Cinema SeriesÆ HDTV Lineup

Also Features New FSTÆ Pureô Flat Direct-View Sets

5-Sep-00

Toshiba's Cinema Series HD sets offer a choice of models and screen size, ranging from HDTV-compatible 16:9 widescreen projection sets to 4:3 projection models, FST Pure ""purely flat"" direct-view sets and more. ""Toshiba's Cinema Series HD and Cinema Series analog sets are designed for those people who do not understand the word compromise,"" said Scott Ramirez, Toshiba's Assistant Vice President of Marketing. ""Our engineers and designers were given one mandate - utilize all of Toshiba' technological expertise to create a TV line that incorporates every conceivable image-enhancing and convenience feature. From the exclusive PowerFocus HD six-element lens system in our projection models to the purely flat screens of our FST Pure SuperTUBE sets, this new generation of Cinema Series TVs truly offers the ultimate in home theatre performance.""Cinema Series HD Toshiba's new Cinema Series HD line includes four HDTV-compatible projection models, as well as three new FST Pure direct-view sets (36HFX70, 36AFX60, 32AFX60) and the recently introduced 34-inch FST Pure widescreen Model CW34X92.For all Cinema Series HD sets, Toshiba's improved IDSC II (Intelligent Digital Scan Conversion) technology automatically converts 480i images to 480p, and automatically passes through 480p and 1080i images. The system employs vertical line doubling and frame doubling, and horizontal pixel doubling technologies said to achieve optimum picture quality with an absence of image-degrading motion artifacts. These processes have reportedly been improved with the addition of two new technological advancements - Vector Progressive Scanning, which eliminates all motion artifacts and jagged lines caused by on-screen motion, and Advanced Digital Video Noise Reduction, which automatically analyzes the on-screen image and applies the precise amount of noise reduction necessary.All Cinema Series HD projection TVs feature the company's PowerFocusô HD Optic System. This includes the PowerFocus Plus six-element lens system, which increases the horizontal resolution on 4:3 HDTV-compatible TVs to 1280 lines. This newly designed lens system is being offered for the first time ever in a 4:3 set in Toshiba's new Cinema Series HD. In addition, the sets feature improved PowerFocus HD Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs) which are claimed to provide an additional 10 percent increase in brightness and a 30 percent increase in sharpness over conventional tubes.Toshiba's new TheaterBrightô HD projection screens, included in all Cinema Series HD HDTV-compatible projection TV models, boast increased corner brightness, resulting in more uniform brightness across the screen. They also claim increased screen gain for an even brighter image. Toshiba's new Cinema Series HD projection sets also feature built-in TheaterShieldô Plus protection screens, which include a new unique anti-reflective layer, said to increase contrast and reduce glare by over 50 percent, with no reduction in brightness.In common with all Toshiba HDTV-compatible TVs, Cinema Series HD sets all feature two sets of ColorStreamÆ HD high definition component video inputs. Toshiba's use of dual ColorStream HD inputs allows users to connect two HD or standard component video sources and easily switch between them.Suggested retail prices for the 36HFX70, 36AFX60, 32AFX60 and the recently introduced CW34X92 are $2799.99, $1999.99, $1499.99 and $4499.99, respectively. Except for the CW34X92, all models will be available in December.Ultra-Slim, High-Performance 43-Inch Projection TV In addition to Toshiba's new HDTV-compatible Cinema Series HD projection TVs, the line includes a wide variety of analog projection sets. The company's tabletop 43-inch 43AX60 is sized for smaller living spaces (with a cabinet that's less than 18 inches deep) and offers the impact of large-screen projection TV with the detail and clarity of a direct-view TV.The 43AX60 has a suggested retail price of $1899.99, and is now available.All Cinema Series sets are equipped with MultiWindow dual-tuner PIP, which allows viewers to watch two programs simultaneously. All sets also feature Toshiba's new tri-lingual color icon-based on-screen menu system that provides easy access to movie and sports modes, StableSoundÆ, video labeling, video lock, direct video input selection and individual audio/video settings for input type. Virtually all Toshiba Cinema Series TVs include the company's new Home Theater A/V Remote Control, which allows users to control six separate home theatre components, including DVD players, VCRs, audio receivers and more.Categories: DTV, HDTV