THE FRONT LINE: APRIL 8, 2008
Mitsubishi 2008 Line Show
When it comes to rear projection HDTVs, Mitsubishi’s drawn a line in the sand at 60 inches.
Mitsubishi’s 2008 line show, held last week in Huntington Beach CA, shows just how much the HDTV landscape has been transformed in less than a decade. At one time, Mitsubishi dominated the rear-projection market, featuring as many as 30 models at their annual event.
Figure 1. Mitsubishi’s Max Wasinger warms up the press.
Today, the line-up is down to seven RPTVs, the smallest of which measures 60 inches diagonally. That’s a dramatic (but also pragmatic) concession to the market-disruptive performance and pricing of LCD and plasma technologies, which overran the 40”–50” market a couple of years ago and have largely completed their conquest of the 50”–60” segment.
As was the case last year, 100% of these models are 1080p, and the 2008 SVPs are amazingly low. Given the current slump in sales of large-screen LCD sets, perhaps Mits has found a temporary safe haven above the ever-rising flat panel floodwaters.
DLP RPTVs
Mits’ WD-60735 ($1,799) is the entry-level model for 2008, and like its two 735-series siblings (WD-65735, $2,199 and WD-73735, $3,199) it features a thin frame, 3D capability, and six-color processing. All three models support Deep Color and xvYCC gamuts (although there’s no support for the standard DCI 1.0 gamut), employ Plush1080p 12-bit and True1080p processing, and have four standard video modes — Brilliant, Bright, Natural, and Game.
Three HDMI 1.3 inputs are standard, along with a USB 2.0 flash card port for viewing still photos and three component HD inputs — two on the rear, and one on the front. The HDMI inputs are compatible with Consumer Device Control (CEC) for operating other system components through HDMI connections.
Figure 2. The 736-series includes two new DLP sets, the WD-73736 (left) and WD-65736 (right).
The 736-series is anchored by the WD-65736 ($2,499) and WD-73736 ($3,599). These retain all of the features of 735-series sets while adding Mitsubishi’s DeepField Imager, a wired IR command input, an extra HDMI 1.3 port on the front, and support for NetCommand.
Finally, the line is topped off with two Diamond-series HDTVs, the WD-65835 ($3,399) and the WD-73835 ($4,699). These add Smooth 120Hz for blur reduction, Dark Detailer for higher contrast with low luminance scenes, and Sharp Edge processing.
LCD HDTVs
Seven new LCD HDTVs complement the line, starting with the 148 series. There are three models in this line, the 40-inch LT-40148 ($2,499), the 46-inch LT-46148 ($2,999), and the 52-inch LT-52148 ($3,599). The 149-series is a step up and includes the LT-46149 ($3,499) and LT-52149 ($4,099).
All five models come standard with thin frames, 120Hz processing to reduce motion blur, six-color and 10-bit image processing, low-profile speakers, and support for xvYCC and Deep Color. (Again, no support for the digital cinema DCI 1.0 standard gamut.) Two Diamond-series models top things out by adding variable smooth 120Hz processing, DeepField imaging, and a piano gloss finish. Those are the LT-46246 ($3,799) and the LT-52246 ($4,499).
Figure 3. Mitsubishi’s 148-series LCDs come in three sizes
(40, 46, and 52 inches) and have super-thin frames.
Figure 4. At least the laser RPTV has a name now (LaserVue),
but we’re still waiting on prices and screen sizes.
LASER HDTVs
This is the third time I’ve seen this product, and while Mitsubishi won’t officially announce screen sizes and pricing, the line does have a name now — LaserVue. We did see side-by-side demos of a prototype LaserVue set against a conventional LCD and Pioneer Kuro plasma, and it’s evident that certain colors really pop with laser light — in particular, red, which resembles the “candy apple” paint color often used on street rods.
The challenge for Mitsubishi will be to resist exploiting the laser light engine to create super-wide color spaces that don’t conform to standard gamuts. A better approach would be to ensure that these new HDTVs (not to mention the DLP and LCD offerings) would precisely reproduce 100% of standard gamuts including BT.709 (HDTV) and DCI (digital cinema).
While Sony, TI, and others are pushing the xvYCC color space, you hear nothing about support for DCI. Yet, it’s more likely that consumers will see packaged media coded into this space than xvYCC. That’s because DCI is the standard for preparing digital projection masters of feature films and will be a gamut more familiar to post-production houses that do the transfers. (For more info on DCI and to download the specification, go to http://www.dcimovies.com/)
LaserVue HDTVs are supposed to start shipping in the 3rd quarter of 2008, almost a year after Mitsubishi’s original target date. According to Max Wasinger, senior vice president of sales and marketing, “You can take that to the bank!” Wasinger went on to tout the advantages of LaserVue, including half the power consumption of same-size LCD HDTVs and 1/3 the power draw of same-size plasma sets.
CONCLUSIONS
Although Mitsubishi’s once-strong position in the HDTV market has eroded considerably, they find themselves in a unique position as only one of two remaining manufacturers of DLP rear-projectors. Retreating to 60-inch and larger screen sizes was a smart move; one that I forecast several years ago at CES would happen to RPTV manufacturers by 2008 (if they didn’t abandon the category altogether).
For the time being, rear projection is still the least expensive path to large screen 1080p imaging, and the current sales slump in large LCD and plasma screens is only going to help. 3D capabilities, while not a significant market driver at present, help to further define Mitsubishi’s niche. The LaserVue sets, assuming they are priced correctly and can be shipped in reasonable qualities with minimum build and operational defects, will provide additional incentive to buy for early adopters.
Ironically, Texas Instrument’s on-going marketing campaigns for DLP have served to minimize the differences between Mitsubishi and Samsung DLP sets and in effect make DLP rear-projectors appear generic to the average consumer. That is a considerable hurdle to overcome if Mitsubishi is to sustain its presence in the market and maintain profitability going forward. Will LaserVue and 3D be the solution? Only time will tell…
