News TV SETS

After Sony was able to win the fight for the format of the successor to DVD some time ago, there seems to be gradual movement on the Blu-Ray market. In addition, since separate set-top boxes are becoming less and less popular with home cinema fans in the age of slim flat screen televisions, Sharp is planning to integrate the Blu-Ray recorder directly into the television with its new Aquos DX2 series. This will be located on the right of the model at the back and will thus be practically invisible when in use.


Around 17 hours of image material can be recorded in standard PAL resolution and the capacity of the 50 gigabyte device allows for just four hours of HD video material. Thanks to the special 7X mode, however, recording times of up to 30 hours in full HD resolution are possible using the MPEG-4 AVC/H.262 codecc.

The Aquos DX2 series comes in five different sizes and at least two different colour variants. For the 40-inch models, the buyer can choose form black and white and also a red exterior. The two smallest members of the new model series offer a resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels and from 40 inches, Sharp’s new Aquos series models already offer a full HD resolution of 1,920 x 1.080 pixels.


The contrast of the displays is advertised as 15,000:1 by Sharp, whereby the small 26-inch model offers a contrast ratio of just 7.000:1. Internet access and Image Select technology which adjusts the brightness to suit the current lighting conditions, are also included. All models are also based on cold cathode ray lamp lighting.

However, no exact prices have yet been provided for Sharp’s Aquos DX2 series. The launch date has already been made known and is set for the tenth of September in Japan.