Panasonic Exhibits Home Theatre-Ready Video Components At CEDIA EXPO 2000

3-Oct-00

Known for producing cutting-edge video products for the consumer market, Panasonic has a number of home theatre solutions perfect for custom installers.""The pivotal pieces of a home theatre arrangement are, of course, the video components,"" says Bill Mannion, Vice President and General Manager of Panasonic Companyís Television and Network Systems Division. ""As the leader in digital television products, Panasonic offers the broadest line of DTV products in the industry.""Panasonic offers many flexible components, which let consumers comfortably upgrade their home theatre systems to the digital age, while still allowing maximum enjoyment of the best of todayís analog technology. For example, the new TU-HDS20 multiple-format tuner is capable of receiving all 18 ATSC digital television broadcast formats and current analog (NTSC) signals, plus DIRECTVÆ and DIRECTV HD satellite transmissions. This product is also fully equipped for home theatre applications and features the unique Advanced Program Guide (APG), which makes program selection easy for the viewer.To deliver all the clarity and brilliance of 3D-like DTV signals, Panasonic offers a variety of DTV-compatible monitors. The latest entry is the impressive PT-52DL10 52-inch (diagonal screen measurement) 16:9 rear-projection set that uses Digital Light Processingô technology, setting a new performance standard for rear projection TV. This set combines Panasonicís advanced digital image technology with the DLPô subsystemís all-digital signal processing. The result is 1280 x 720 (720p native) resolution, 300 cd/m2 brightness intensity, and a contrast ratio of 400:1. A newly developed wide-angled diffusion screen panel technology provides an incredible viewing expanse and distortion-free brightness and clarity from almost any viewing angle. In direct-view televisions, Panasonic presents the cutting-edge CT-36HX40 Tauô monitor (available November 2000). The new 4:3 HDTV (1080i/480p) compatible set features a three-line digital comb filter, digital velocity modulated scan, built-in progressive scan converter, digital convergence, wideband video amplifier, powerful audio system, two-tuner split-screen/standard PIP, component video inputs and a host of other advanced features.Representative of the next generation in television products are Panasonicís 42-and 50-inch (diagonal) flat panel plasma TVs. The new Panasonic 42-inch (diagonal screen measurement) PT-42PD2-P and 50-inch PT-50PD2-P (available December 2000) 16:9 widescreen displays deliver ultra-bright, razor-sharp images from almost any viewing angle. At only 3.5 inches thick, they create an incredible impact whether theyíre hung on a wall, built into an entertainment system or placed on their included pedestal stands. The PT-42PD2-P has a brightness level of 650 cd/m2, 16.77 million color-reproduction capability, and extraordinary contrast ratio of 3000:1 - more than five times higher than our previous 42-inch model. Both sets display 480i/480p digital video as well as analog signals, while step-up model PT-50PD2-P can also display high definition 720p.ShowStopping TechnologyFor controlling ""live"" TV, Panasonic offers the PV-HS2000 ShowStopper Hard Disk Recorder. The new recorder uses an internal hard disk drive and MPEG-2 technology to record up to 30 hours of video information and high quality, stereo sound. Using the free ReplayTVô Service, the recorder allows television viewers to record in-progress shows ""on the fly,"" and control real-time television just as if they were watching a recorded program - with pause, fast-forward, rewind and instant replay. Other features include three recording modes, ""one touch"" recording capability, and the ability to create personalized ""channels"" according to viewersí criteria. DVD RecorderNo self-respecting home theatre system is complete without a DVD playerÖ and Panasonic offers a broad array of DVD choices for the home theatre enthusiast. This yearís DVD highlights include the first consumer DVD Recorder for the U.S. market, the companyís popular progressive scan DVD-Video player and the third-generation PalmTheatreô portable DVD-Video player. Bridging the gap between home entertainment and personal computing is the new Panasonic DMR-E10 DVD recorder, which records onto a removable DVD-RAM disc. Key benefits include high resolution video quality, superb audio quality, fast random access memory, enormous storage capability, rewritability, and playback of DVD-Video discs, DVD-RAM discs and video and audio CDs. The technology used in the new unit is based on the DVD-RAM and video recording formats approved by the DVD Forum. Because it is compatible with audio/video and PC applications, DVD-RAM is seen as the medium that will bring about the convergence of home computing and home entertainment. With its vast storage capacity, incredible speed, and exceptional picture and sound quality, DVD-RAM is highly adaptive to the expanding digital media environment.Progressive Scan DVD PlayerThe innovative DVD-H1000 progressive scan DVD player delivers crisp, 480p digital images, recreating the picture quality of the cinema right at home. Unlike interlaced scanning (the NTSC standard which projects alternating frames of 262.5 lines of picture information every 1/60th of a second), progressive scanning transmits a full 525 horizontal lines (480 of which are displayed) in the same amount of time. With nearly double the number of lines, progressive scanning offers higher picture resolution and eliminates bothersome motion artifacts - those jagged edges on moving objects that are typical of a converted interlaced signal.For high-quality audio to complement its video capabilities, the DVD-H1000 includes the latest audio circuit technologies and audiophile grade components - such as newly developed electrolytic capacitors, which employ bamboo fiber separators, and new high-capacity (0.1uF) copper film capacitors. The player also incorporates an R-core toroidal transformer, which helps eliminate magnetic flux leakage for reduced harshness at the high end. The result is awesome audio best appreciated with an equally outstanding high-quality amp and speaker system. Portable DVD-Video PlayerFollowing the unrivaled success of last yearís DVD-L50 PalmTheatre portable DVD-Video player, Panasonic once again affirms its DVD expertise with the DVD-LV75. Although designed to travel, the ultra-compact PalmTheatre portable DVD-Video players offer many of the same enhanced video features found on Panasonicís full-size DVD-Video decks, and can optimize the performance of the most sophisticated home theatre system. This miniature marvel weighs about 1.3 lbs. (without battery), measures just 5 1/2 inches long by 7 9/32 inches wide and is less than an inch thick. The DVD-LV75 is equipped with a high-resolution, 7-inch diagonal 16:9 LCD screen, built-in DolbyÆ Digital and DTSÆ Digital Surroundô decoders for home theatre applications and built-in stereo speakers. It boasts Advanced VSS - to simulate a surround sound effect from external stereo speakers - and Headphone VSS when used with optional headphones. It also features Cinema Mode and Dialogue Enhancer to further enhance the home theatre experience, plus convenience features like Chapter Preview, jog dial, full-function LCD display with battery indicator and high-speed, 5-step Smooth Motion Scan. PureFlat TV/DVD-Video/VCR CombinationFor those who prefer a simple approach to home theatre, Panasonic offers the Panasonic PV-DF2700 27-inch and 20-inch PV-DF2000 Tau PureFlat TriplePlay TV/DVD-Video/VCR combinations. These models are highlighted by Tau PureFlat - perfectly flat - television screens, which are widely acclaimed for their startlingly crisp, realistic picture combined with the simplicity offered by plug-and-play models. And, home theatre set up has never been easier. Users just pull the unit out of the box, plug it in, and theyíre ready to view their favorite videocassette, DVD movie or TV program. And of course, the DVD player does double-duty as an audio CD player. The unique productís all-in-one space saving design makes it especially welcome in bedrooms, dorms, home offices and apartments whenever space is at a premium. It features a four head hi-fi VCR with VCRplus+Æ programming, illuminated remote control, outputs for DTS Digital Surround and Dolby Digital decoders. The PV-DF2700 adds two-tuner picture-in-picture.For more information, visit www.panasonic.com.

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