By Patrick Avenell
SYDNEY: Sharp have released two new HD LCD TV models to further heighten competition in this fierce pre-Olympic Games market. Designed for smaller rooms and the office, the models are the ideal size for LCD, which doesn’t handle the bigger, 42-inch and above, range as well as Plasma. The smaller model is the 32-inch LC-32D33X, while the more expensive, 37-inch model is called LC-37D33X.
Besides the difference in size, the models boast identical features: Inbuilt digital tuner, sound produced from SRS TruSurround XT, connectivity is available through the Sharp AQUOS link and terminals include HDMI, PC, AV and headphones. Importantly for the hearing impaired, the TVs are Teletext compatible.
The most important feature, however, is also the most interesting. These new LCD models are 1,366×768 pixels, or 720p. With the high-end TV market so competitive in the lead up to major sporting events such as the Olympic Games and the European Championships, most of the big manufactures have been launching their new line of full high definition TVs, or 1080p.
The other big players in this industry, Panasonic, Samsung and LG for example, have mostly ignored the 720p design, focusing on the higher quality full HD. Although all of these brands do have lower-end 720p models, the signature models in this important sales period are the 1080p televisions.
A Sharp spokesperson indicated that these models are not intended for home theatre use, but for more modest settings, such as the bedroom, kitchen or in the office.
Sharp 32-inch LC-32D33X – RRP $1,499
Sharp 37-inch LC-37D33X – RRP $1,799