Marantz Unveils New High Definition Plasma Display Sets

2-Oct-00

New PD4298HD, PD4292D Plasma TV Monitors Make Their Debut At CEDIA EXPO 2000Marantz America announced the introduction of its PD4298HD High-Definition Plasma Display, a high-end 42-inch widescreen (16:9) television monitor that incorporates leading-edge plasma display and digital video technologies to produce extraordinary high-definition image quality. In addition, Marantz announced the introduction of its 42-inch PD4292D Digital Widescreen Plasma Monitor, upgraded from the previous model PD4290D with greater brightness and improved contrast, along with enhanced performance and convenience features.The Marantz PD4298HDThe new Marantz PD4298HD is a state-of-the-art video component in every respect, created to be nothing less than the ultimate plasma display monitor. The PD4298HD delivers images of unprecedented clarity, brightness and contrast from a 42-inch widescreen (16:9) display with a super-slim chassis less than 3 1/2 inches deep, and accepts the input from virtually any digital and analog video source. The PD4298HD utilizes a 1024 x 1024 pixel array-the highest resolution plasma TV screen available-to display video images of unmatched resolution and sharpness, with exceptional color accuracy.Complementing this state-of-the-art display technology, the PD4298HD employs leading-edge digital image processing circuitry to eliminate the deficiencies inherent in other plasma display monitors, such as pixelization, poor contrast, low brightness and objectionable digital video artifacts. And thanks to its wide 160-degree angle of view, the PD4298HD is ideal for home theatre installations, enabling viewers sitting off to the sides of the display to enjoy the same picture quality and brightness as viewers located directly in front of the screen.The PD4298HD is compatible with virtually every digital and analog video display device, and can operate in either native progressive scan mode or upconvert video sources, depending on the signal source. The PD4298HD can display a 480p or 720p progressive scan image from a DVD-Video player, HDTV set-top box or computer, true 1080i HDTV images from an HDTV set-top box or other HDTV sources, or an upconverted image from any NTSC source. The PD4298HD can display images from a PC or Macintosh computer up to SXGA resolution, and automatically scales or upconverts video sources as necessary.The PD4298HD is compatible with virtually any digital or analog video program source, and includes HD component video, component video, S-Video and composite video connections, as well as analog RGB (BNC x 5 and 15-pin D-sub) inputs to accommodate the video output from a computer.For maximum viewing flexibility, the PD4298HD provides four aspect ratio modes - Normal, Wide, Full and Stadium. Because plasma TV does not use electron beams, as conventional CRT displays do, the PD4298HD is impervious to magnetic fields, allowing placement in close proximity to any type of loudspeaker or electronics with no possibility of image distortion.All key functions as well as video and audio adjustments are easily accessible via the PD4298HD's improved seven-language on-screen menu, which is accessed using the supplied Marantz RC1200 Programmable Learning Remote Control. The RC1200 can also learn the codes of every component in an A/V system for total system control.The PD4298HD's ultra-thin depth allows installation options never before possible, such as hanging on a wall or placement where conventional TVs cannot be accommodated.The Marantz PD4298HD carries a suggested retail price of $18,999 and is shipping as of October 2000.The Marantz PD4292DThe new Marantz PD4292D offers a host of upgrades and improvements from the previous model PD4290D. The PD4292D delivers more than 50 percent greater brightness and a 500:1 contrast ratio (improved from 350:1, or more than 43 percent). Additional enhancements include a 64-step brightness control, a 3-D Motion Adaptive Scan Converter with 2:3 pull-down conversion and a 10-bit motion-adaptive Y/C separation circuit for exceptional detail reproduction and elimination of video artifacts, plus a 3x digital zoom function. The PD4292D automatically adjusts and maximizes image quality according to the video source, for the best-possible picture quality from any type of video input with no manual adjustment required. The PD4292D weighs almost 17 pounds less than the previous model, making it easier to install than ever before.The Marantz PD4292D carries a suggested retail price of $12,999 and is shipping as of October 2000. For more information, visit Marantz America at www.marantz.com