Mitsubishi ‘LaserVu’ Rear-Projection TVs to Ship Q3

The laser TV will occupy the high end of Mitsubishi’s DLP-based rear projection line, which includes 60W, 65W and 73W models. Mitsubishi still hasn’t released LaserVu specs. But it did show a 65W model at CES with Texas Instruments’ 0.65-inch DLP 1920x1080 chip (CED Jan 9 p4). The set will draw less than 100 watts of power, company officials have said (CED May 15 p1). TI has demonstrated a 3D-capable 0.65- inch DLP with DarkChip 4 technology. Pricing hasn’t been set, but the LaserVu set will be part of the company’s high- end Diamond series, dealers briefed on the plans said. “We are wrapping this around the LaserVu brand around this product so we won’t talk about it as rear-projection TV because we want to stay away from those common terms,” said David Naranjo, director of product development.

Mitsubishi hasn’t said where it’s sourcing the blue and green lasers for the set. The company makes its own red lasers. Novalux previously has said it’s working with Mitsubishi. It’s believed that lasers of four to five watts will be needed for rear-projection TVs. At the dealer show, Mitsubishi conducted a side-by-side comparison on pre- production versions of the LaserVu set with a Pioneer Elite 60W plasma TV and a Sharp 65W LCD model. The LaserVu TV appeared to have higher levels of contrast, color saturation and black levels than the other sets The Sharp 65W set’s picture looked washed out compared with the LaserVu model’s.

Mitsubishi didn’t predict how many LaserVu sets it will sell. But Frank DeMartin, vice president of marketing, previously projected laser-based TV sales of 20,000 units this year, increasing to 300,000 and 800,000 in 2009 and 2010, respectively (CED Nov 14/06 p3). DeMartin declined to comment at the line show.

Mitsubishi also showed an OCAP-based two-way-capable rear projection TV to dealers, but it’s unlikely the set will ship this year, Naranjo told us. He declined to disclose the size of the set demonstrated. Mitsubishi signed an agreement with VividLogic in 2006 to develop software for OCAP-capable TVs and continues to work with the firm, Naranjo said. “It’s tough for us because there isn’t a national standard yet” for two-way cable, Naranjo said. “We have an OCAP-enabled product and we're evaluating whether it makes sense to roll it out given there is no national standard yet. It’s not ready for commercialization yet, but it’s beyond prototype.”

Mitsubishi also is weighing introducing a Blu-ray player for the second half, but plans haven’t been set, Naranjo said. Mitsubishi has no plans to introduce Blu-ray recorders in the U.S., though the company will sell them in Japan (CED March 18 p3), Naranjo said. A U.S. market for Blu-ray recorders hasn’t emerged yet, he said.

Mitsubishi is continuing with standard DLP-based rear projection TVs but increased the size of the entry-level model to 60W from 57W last year. Its entry-level price has dropped to $1,799 from $2,799 a year ago. The line was cut to seven new models from nine last year. All of the sets feature TI’s 0.65-inch DLP with 1920x1080 resolution, but brightness was increased to about 620 nits from about 550, Naranjo said. To increase brightness, Mitsubishi moved to a five-segment color wheel from six and added a filter, company officials said. The sets, which will process six colors for better color saturation, also continue with 180-watt UHP lamps.

The DLP TVs also are 3D-capable through an HDMI connector that attaches to a PC or PS3 console. But Mitsubishi dropped the GameFX name it used a year ago for the feature since the technology will also be used for DVDs. Mitsubishi expects to introduce co-promotions with 3D eyeglass suppliers in June. Details, including which supplier Mitsubishi will partner with, haven’t been finalized, but the glasses and transmitter won’t be packaged with a Mitsubishi TV, company officials said. Mitsubishi has worked Real D in the past, but it used glasses from I/O Systems at the line show, company officials said. The Real D products sells for around $400, while the I/O models -- glasses and a converter -- retail for less than $200, company officials said. I/O Systems was promoting its Virtual FX 3D converter on its Web site Monday at $99, down from $149, while wired ($39) and wireless ($59) 3D glasses also were available. The 3D feature in the set works with the DLP chip for the display of two stereoscopic images, each with a 60 Hz frame rate.

CableCARD capability has been stripped from Mitsubishi rear-projection TVs and moved to its LCD TVs. CableCARD was in three Diamond series rear-projection TVs last year, down from eight in 2006 and 13 the previous year. The new sets also continue with the CEC protocol for bi-directional control of AV gear via an HDMI cable. CEC is designed to work with Mitsubishi’s NetCommand that allows for the control of other network products. Mitsubishi is continuing with CEC, despite some struggles with the protocol, company officials said.

“The CEC protocol is very vague and not well defined,” DeMartin said. “So we might assign something one way and somebody else does it another way despite the fact that we're looking at the same protocol. But there’s not going to be a way to work it out unless we start putting it into some products.”

The DLP line starts with the 735 series consisting of 60W ($1,799), 65W ($2,199) and 73W ($3,199). The 736 series contains 65W ($2,499) and 73W ($3,599) models and adds wired IR, NetCommand, DeepField Imager contrast enhancement and a front HDMI input. The 835 Diamond line features 65W ($3,399) and 73W ($4,699) models with 120 Hz frame rate conversion. All sets have USB 2.0 connectors.

In LCD TVs, Mitsubishi will field three all-120 Hz lines that feature Film Motion technology that eliminates 24 Hz artifacts and smooths out fast or slow moving content. The high-end Diamond series includes a 10-step variable control for Film Motion that allows users to increase or reduce the level of judder in an image to keep the film-like feel, company officials said. Mitsubishi’s two other LCD series use a three-step control, company officials said. The LCD TVs use 10-bit Samsung-sourced LCDs and contain x.v. Color. The sets also are preloaded with four still frame images from Gallery Player and promote a link to the company’s Web site for downloading of additional content to a USB drive. The drive can then be plugged into a set’s USB 2.0 connector.

The entry-level 148 series of LCD TVs includes 40W ($2,499), 46W ($2,999) and 52W ($3,599) models. The step-up 149 series TVs include 46W ($3,499) and 52W ($4,099). The Diamond line includes 46W ($3,799) and 52W ($4,499) models. The line’s price range is down from a $2,699 to $5,699 spread last year.

Mitsubishi Line Show Notebook…

While Mitsubishi hasn’t finalized plans for a derivative TV line for some retailers, it’s firm that Circuit City won’t be among them, Max Wasinger, vice president of sales, told us. Circuit has sold derivative Mitsubishi sets since returning the brand to its stores in 2006 after a 13-year absence. It fielded 57W and 65W DLP rear projection TVs last year, but will sell core line product this year, company officials said. Costco sold a 65W derivative set in 2007, but plans haven’t been finalized this year, Wasinger said. The derivative line is “still in the discussion process,” but Costco is a “very strong and vibrant customer” for Mitsubishi, Wasinger said.

----

Mitsubishi remains confident that rear-projection TVs “still have some legs and a few more years,” despite declining sales, Naranjo said. Since LCD TVs haven’t flooded the 60W and up screen sizes yet, price pressure for rear- projection TVs in that category “isn’t as severe” as it is in the smaller sizes, he said.