I’ve noticed that new technology features are often added at the expense of other features. Eventually, the old features are added back into the final product and this is when I finally say “time to buy!”
This is the case with the latest crop of Super Thin flat panel displays.
Sharp created the D64 series as the first Slim-Line Design boasting a 25% reduction in depth. Most of the display is thinner but there’s a bump of electronics in the bottom right side that defeats the gains elsewhere.
The biggest problem was, the image was washed out and no amount of tweaking seemed to fix it.
Then the new 120Hz refresh rate displays were released. These added some motion clarity and were a decided improvement.
The LC-52SE94U is another step in the right direction. The picture is a stark improvement over the D64, the unit is thin and wall-hugging, and the bezel is beautiful.
Time to Buy!
Another thin display worth ogling over is the Pioneer PRO-101FD and PRO-141FD. These are monitors so there’s no TV tuner or speakers. It’s meant for the type of custom installs DistinctAV typically does where all the HD sources are in a rack somewhere and the only thing in the room is the display and in-wall or in-ceiling speakers. Only 2-17/32″ deep!
I’d love to see this piece with a set of Stealth speakers so there’s nothing on the wall to take away from it’s inherent beauty and the content it’s displaying.
The new Sony OLED technology creates displays that are only 3mm thick (thin?) but the electronics still bump out the back and there are other negative issues with the OLED technology.
Hitachi as a 1.5″ thinn line that is the pinnacle of thin panel design.
A little wall and space planning when building or renovating your house can allow rear-projection displays that only stick out ZERO inches from the wall. New screen technology reduces hot spots and produces excellent side-access viewing too.
