CES 2009

Last year there were a handful of home-theater-in-a-box systems with integrated Blu-ray, but in 2009, it looks as if the feature will be close to standard. Sharp has announced the BD-MPC series of home theater systems that come complete integrated Profile 2.0-compatible Blu-ray players. Not much additional information was released, but here's what we know.

Key features of the Sharp BD-MPC series:

• 5.1 home theater system
• 720 watts of power
• Blu-ray player included
• Profile 2.0 compatible with an Ethernet jack
• Both models available in the spring with an MSRP of $800

There are two models in the BD-MPC series, the BD-MPC30 and BD-MPC40. The difference between the two models is merely cosmetic, with the BD-MPC30 featuring a black synthetic finish and the BD-MPC40 has black wooden cabinets.

Sharp's Blu-ray home theater system - photos

Sharp's 1080p XV-Z1500 is available in March and carries a relatively affordable list price of $3,000.

(Credit: Sharp)

The prices for 1080p front-projectors have gradually been coming down, and Sharp thinks it has a nice proposition for consumers in its new $3,000 XV-Z15000 projector that arrives in March.

This is a DLP projector that features a single 1080p DLP 0.65" DMD chip from Texas Instruments and what Sharp is calling "an unprecedented 30,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and high brightness in a price-competitive model."

The XV-Z15000 offers a native resolution of 1,920 x 1,080, a 24 Hz film mode, and a six-segment, six-speed color wheel. The press release adds that, "A powered iris switchover function gives the consumer enhanced control over brightness and contrast settings with the touch of a button on the remote control, providing flexibility in varying home theater environments with different lighting situations."

The XV-Z15000 includes Keystone Correction, which corrects spherical, cylindrical and trapezoidal distortion, as well an auto V-Keystone Correction button to "automatically activate in response to the installation angle of the projector."

You get two HDMI connections (version 1.3 with x.v.Color) and a RS-232C input for custom installations. Sharp claims the XV-Z15000 is whisper quiet.

We're still waiting for a picture of Sharp's new Blu-ray players--but they are both slimmer than this model.

(Credit: Sharp)

In case you didn't know, Sharp makes Aquos Blu-ray players, and it's got two new models lined up for the first half of 2009, the BD-HP22U and BD-HP16U. The major difference between the two is that the BD-HP22U ($299.99)--due to hit stores in May--supports Profile 2.0, also known as BD-Live, and delivers Blu-ray's interactive features through an Ethernet-enabled Internet connection. Meanwhile, the marginally less expensive BD-HP16U ($279.99)--due out in March--does not.

Both models have a new slim, compact design and piano-black finish to match Sharp's Aquos TVs. In terms of specifications, both players offer Full HD 1080p output, HDMI 1.3 digital output with x.v. color, and 1,920x1,080-pixel resolution video at 24 frames per second output to reduce artifacts when watching film-based material.

On the audio front, the lossless surround-sound formats Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio are on board and Sharp is touting its Aquos Pure Mode that, according to Sharp, automatically produces an optimal picture when you pair one of these sets with a Sharp Aquos TV. According to a news release, "Sharp engineers designed this mode so that the BD player recognizes the connection to the Aquos TV, in turn producing the best picture possible. When the BD player is connected the Aquos* automatically switches to 'dot-by-dot' mode, allowing the consumer to view every pixel of 1080i and 1080p content with no overscan, proving a picture can be viewed in its true form with every detail displayed."

Both BD players include Sharp's proprietary Quick Start feature for quick-disc loading and low-power consumption in both Power On mode and in Standby mode. The BD-HP22U includes 2GB of USB memory (for BD-Live content).

While the price of the BD-HP16U is listed at $279.99, we wouldn't be surprised if its actual price is less than $200 when it's released in March. And by May, when the BD-HP22U hits stores, it, too, should be closer to $200--if not less.

Sharp's $250 HT-SB200 comes out later this month.

(Credit: Sharp)

Sound bars, which are designed to sit below a flat-panel TV and simulate surround sound from their compact chassis, are all the rage these days. With that in mind, Sharp has introduced two new 2.1-channel sound bars, the HT-SB300 and HT-SB200. The HT-SB200 will be available later this month for $249.99 (MSRP) while the slightly more feature-rich HT-SB300 will arrive in April with an MSRP of $299.99.

Both models are wall-mountable or they can be placed on a TV stand. According to Sharp, they should be paired with TVs 32-inches or larger (preferably with one of its Aquos LCD models).

In terms of specifications, you're looking at 34-watts of power, HDSS (high-definition sound standard) sound technology, and SRS WOW HD Sound, as well as adjustable bass, treble and sub-level options "for a unique surround sound effect without rear channel speakers," according to Sharp.

The step-up HT-SB300 adds digital audio decoding with DTS, Dolby Digital and Dolby Pro logic II decoder, as well as Dolby Virtual Speaker to simulate 5.1-channel surround sound

Both sound bars offer dual audio inputs, right and left RCA jacks, and a 3.5mm sub mini jack, which allows for a second audio source such as an MP3 player. The HT-SB300 adds a subwoofer output jack. According to Sharp, the included remote can "simultaneously control a Sharp Aquos LCD TV, as well as a programmed equalizer and an auto On/Off function."

We expect to see several sound bars come out these prices this year, and we'll be curious to see if any of them stand out from each other in terms of performance.

CES may be the place to make a big splash with new technology, but it's also a place for manufacturers to announce their standard product lines. Sharp's LC-E67U line of LCDs doesn't offer up anything surprising, although it's worth noting the generous four HDMI inputs. Here are the details.

Key features of the Sharp LC-E67U series:

• Advanced Super View antireflective screen
• Four HDMI inputs
• Two component video inputs
• Energy Star 3.0 compliant
• Vyper Drive gaming mode
• 32- and 40-inch screen sizes

While most of these features are pretty standard, Advanced Super View (ASV) is a term specific to Sharp. ASV describes the coating used on the LCD panels, designed to reduce lighting reflections while maintaining a crisp picture. Most LCDs are using some sort of antireflective coating these days, so the technology isn't unique, and we'll need to do a hands-on test to see how it compares to the competition.

The LC-32E67U will come out in February with an MSRP of $900; the LC-40E67U comes out in March with an MSRP of $1,200. Sharp also announced a step-up line of LCDs, the LC-E77U series, which offers 120Hz processing and an additional HDMI input.

Built-in Blu-ray eliminates the need for a separate, bulky player.

Blu-ray may still be a niche product, but it's a sure sign that the technology is going mainstream is that it's being built into TVs. Sharp has announced a full line of LCDs with integrated Blu-ray players, the LC-BD80U series, which is a new product category for CES 2009. While the initial details are scarce on the features of the built-in Blu-ray player, there are at least some specs available for the LCDs.

Key features of the Sharp LC-BD80U series:

• Advanced Super View antireflective screen
• 120Hz refresh rate, with dejudder processing
• Four HDMI inputs (three on the LC-32BD60U and LC-37BD60U)
• Two component video inputs
• PC input
• 32-, 37-, 42-, 46- and 52-inch screen sizes

It's nice to see LCDs with built-in Blu-ray, which can be convenient in locations where you wouldn't want the bulk of a separate player. However, we're anxious to see more details on this series, particularly pricing and whether the Blu-ray profile is fully Profile 2.0 compatible. It will also be a harder sell on some of the smaller screen sizes, where the superior image quality of Blu-ray won't be as noticeable, although it's still nice to have the option to watch your Blu-ray discs on, say, the bedroom TV.

It's also worth pointing out that Sharp explicitly says the LG-BD80Us will have dejudder processing, which is a feature that was missing from last year's LCDs. While not every viewer likes the effect of dejudder processing, it's nice to have the option, especially since it's quickly becoming a standard feature. (More info on 120Hz and dejudder processing here.)

The LC-32BD80U, LC-37BD80U, LC-42BD80U will come out in January; the LC-46BD80U and LC-52BD80U will come out in February. No pricing has been announced for these sets.

The LC-E77U series features five HDMI inputs.

While competitors like Samsung, Sony, and Vizio are rolling out new features such as 240Hz refresh rates, LED-backlighting, and interactive content to their LCDs, Sharp's new E77 lineup is fairly conventional, even by last year's standards.

Key features of the Sharp LC-E77UN series:

• 1080p native resolution
• Advanced Super View screen
• 120Hz refresh rate and dejudder processing
• Four HDMI inputs
• Two component video inputs
• PC input
• RS-232 port
• Swivel stand
• EnergyStar 3.0 compliant
• 40-, 46- 52-, 60-, 65-inch screen sizes

While most of these features are pretty standard, Advanced Super View (ASV) is a term specific to Sharp. ASV describes the coating used on the LCD panels, designed to reduce lighting reflections while maintaining a crisp picture. Most LCDs are using some sort of antireflective coating these days, so the technology isn't unique and we'll need to do a hands-on test to see how it compares with the competition.

The LC-E77UN series does have 120Hz refresh rate with "Fine Motion Enhanced technology" and dejudder processing, although previous Sharp HDTVs did not have the dejudder processing that most people associate with 120Hz.

The release of these TVs will be staggered. The LC-40E77UN, LC-46E77UN,and LC-52E77UN are available now. The LC-60E77UN will come out in September, with an MSRP of $3,500. The LC-65E77UN will also come out in September, with an MSRP of $4,500.

The 60-inch model, an industry first, aims to fulfill what Sharp believes to be an underserved community of consumers wanting bigger screen real-estate at a lower price. That said, you could go out right now and find a 65-inch plasma for less than $3,500.

Sharp also announced the stepdown LC-E67U series at CES 2009, which features lower prices and one less HDMI input.