JVC refines e-shift, teases professional 4K TV under $20k

JVC strengthens its hold on the affordable, high-performance projector market with seven new models and teases an 84-inch 4K TV at CEDIA 2012

JVC held its annual press breakfast this morning to make its new product announcements at CEDIA 2012. Last year, we were impressed with the performance of the company’s line of 4K projectors, which use a technology JVC calls e-shift to create a 4K image from standard 1080p content. This morning we learned that JVC has further refined e-shift — now referred to as e-shift 2– and implemented it into seven new projectors while also improving costly lamp life and revamping its 3D delivery system. 

E-shift 2, like its predecessor, is a bit of electronic wizardry that works by scanning a 1080p image, then electronically shifting the image half a pixel to the side, then half a pixel up and back again at 120Hz. This essentially quadruples the number of visible pixels and — voila — you get a 4K image. The improvements made on the original e-shift technology involves an 8-band filter which, according to JVC, significantly improves the quality of the image by helping to eliminate visible artifacts like aliasing. To borrow JVC’s audio analogy: it’s like comparing an 8-band equalizer to a tone control knob — it’s simply a more precise process. E-shift 2 only works in 2D mode and is available in projectors starting as low as $3500

In addition to the e-shift revamp, JVC also improved its lamp life — a notable benefit considering how pricey those lamps are. A representative from JVC explained that after 2,000 hours of use, the lamp will have degraded by only 15%.

Also new for this year is an RF syncing system for its active shutter 3D glasses. By using RF, signal dropout is much less likely. As anyone who has turned around in their seat while wearing active 3D glasses knows, getting the glasses to re-sync after losing the infrared signal is a frustrating wait. 

At the end of the conference, we also learned that JVC is in the early stages of developing two 84-inch 4K televisions. According to JVC Professional’s president, Bob Mueller, there is a prototype hiding in a hotel room somewhere in Indianapolis, but it is only being shown “privately” due to the fact that it is very much incomplete at this point. Still, it is interesting to hear of yet another 84-inch panel in development, and it’s encouraging to hear that one should be available for under $20k. What is it, though, about the number 84 that makes it so magical? Ponder that while checking out a rendering of the display below. 

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Unusual quiet where speakers should boom: CEDIA 2012 launches with a wimper

One of the year's biggest exhibitions for A/V gurus have turned down the volume, as CEDIA 2012 gets underway with little fanfare and fewer big-name exhibitors.

An unusually quiet press day at CEDIA 2012

It’s press day at the CEDIA Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana — typically a frenzied day as we dash from room to room at the Indianapolis convention center in an effort to catch all the breaking news on the industry’s latest products and vie for position to get the best possible photos. But things are a bit different this year. 

The buzz we’re so used to immersing ourselves in is simply not happening; not yet, anyway. It seemed business as usual at the airport, and there were no lines to deal with at the hotel. Then this morning, as we walked through the front door of the convention center,  we were greeted not by the hustle and bustle of exhibitors as they rush to set up their monster-sized booths nor the the clamor of press agents wrestling for lanyards, badges and bagels, but by eerie silence and empty space. Sadly, we’re not surprised. 

We had some forewarning that this year’s show would be a little different when we learned that some of the industry’s heavy-hitters would not be exhibiting — not in the traditional manner, anyway. Neither Samsung nor LG have booths this year and even the Klipsch group — which calls Indianapolis its home town, no less — won’t be on the show floor. Instead, LG will be showing off its 84-inch 4K  TV offsite. Klipsch will do the same. 

But it isn’t all doom and gloom. Sony has indicated it has something new for us to see, as has JVC. And we know Monster will have something to show off this year, even if it is as simple as a new set of headphones and a Bluetooth speaker. Rest assured, wherever the new, interesting products are, we will be there.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com