In New York this week, JVC unveiled its previously announced slim-cabinet RPTVs that are based on three 1080p HD-ILA (LCOS) imagers, a new light engine design and a concave mirror. (Display Daily, Oct. 6) The 58-inch ($3,300) and 65-inch ($4,200) are an amazing 10.7 and 11.6 inches deep, respectively. With flat panel TVs dropping rapidly in price, will these new models compete successfully with the more popular LCD and plasma models?

John DiLoreto
Analyst and Editor for
Insight Media

The units are obviously intended to.  With side heat dissipation and side-mounted inputs/outputs, JVC says they are thin enough and light enough to be mounted on the wall, just like flat panels.  They also can use TV stands designed for flat-panel TVs, to further make the point.

However, the big advantage for those who want a TV this size, is cost.

If you watch quality HD content, like to sit more than a few feet away from it, and want to see all the detail, a set 58 or 65 inches might be recommended. (Display Daily, Dec. 1)  Flat-panel TVs this size cost a lot more, for example, over $10K for a 65-inch LCD-TV.  While flat-panel TV prices should continue to fall 20-25% per year, RPTV prices will fall, too.  Hopefully they’ll soon reach what I consider a $2,000-$2,500 sweet spot for “mainstream” adoption at this size.

But mainstream adoption at this size won’t happen unless image quality is maintained, or more likely, improved.  LCD-TVs, plasma TVs and RPTV each have their own image-quality shortcomings.  I have noted previously that RPTVs are especially challenged by the physics of light traveling the cabinet’s optical path (projection lens, mirror, Fresnel and screen).  It’s especially challenging at the 135° angles needed to make the cabinet thin.  Degradation shows up in fine detail contrast, characterized by a concept called MTF (modulation transfer function).  But don’t expect to discuss that with your retailer when you go to buy one!

For its part, JVC has gone to great lengths to optimize the image quality of these slim RPTVs.  The concave mirror allows a narrower-beam projection lens for lower cost, less stray light, and more fine detail contrast.  Also, the cabinet interior is sealed from stray dust that would get on the mirror, lens and screen. 

Like other high-end front and rear projection systems, JVC has included an iris system that responds to scene brightness enhances contrast to 10,000:1 for better black levels and more accurate gradation in dark scenes.

Scaling technology is also an important image-quality factor in any set, and JVC uses its Genessa 32-bit video processor, with its fifth-generation Digital Image Scaling Technology.

We haven’t seen the results yet, but it will be interesting to see how these measures fare in comparison with similar-sized LCD and plasma sets.

The new 58-inch and 65-inch “wall-hanging” RP sets are slated to ship to dealers in January and March, respectively.  Then you can tell me if the tradeoffs work for you.