Toshiba Squeezes Big HDTVs into Small Spaces with New REGZA Models
By Chris Boylan
It might seem a bit odd to the home theater enthusiast, but many HDTV consumers are buying TVs based primarily on what fits in their existing furniture. If you've recently spent $5,000 on custom cabinetry that fits a 32-inch to 36-inch CRT television, then chances are you're only going to be able to fit a 37-inch widescreen model into that same cabinet space.
And good luck convincing the significant other that you're going to buy all new furniture, to accomodate a larger set. But, as we all know, in HDTV-land, bigger is better, so what's a poor BIG PICTURE lover to do?
Toshiba to the rescue! At a Star Trek-themed press conference at CEDIA Expo in Denver this week, Toshiba announced their new "Super Narrow Bezel" (SNB) models. With the new narrow bezels around the screen, you can now fit a 40-inch widescreen LCD flat panel into the space of most 37-inch models, and a 46-inch widescreen set into the space usually taken up by most 40 to 42-inch models.
Toshiba's new Super Narrow Bezel models will boldly fit where no TV has fit before.
The new 1080p sets include the 40-inch 40RF350U ($1,899.99, September) and 46-inch 46RF350U ($2,499.99, September). Each features a bezel that is less than one inch wide. In addition to sporting a redesigned frame in high-gloss black with chrome trim, the new 40" and 46" SNB models are designed to offer exceptional picture quality.
The new sets feature a new 10-Bit LCD Panel (64 times as many colors as an 8-Bit Panel), and xvYCC signal support to accept 1.8x more colors than standard HD signals. Also on board is Toshiba's PixelPure 3G 14-Bit internal Digital Video Processing with 4,096 levels of gradation, DynaLight™ dynamic backlight for deeper blacks, and ColorBurst™ wide color gamut CCFL for enhanced color rendition.
Toshiba's Scott Ramirez (VP, Marketing, Display Products) can barely contain his excitement (embarassment?) as he is beamed onto the stage with the green alien woman from episodes 11 and 12.
To further minimize cabinet size, the SNB models use super-slim SoundStrip2 speaker system along the bottom of the screen.
Inputs include 3 HDMI™ inputs (with CE-Link HDMI-CEC control), a PC/VGA input, component, S-video and composite video inputs. On-board tuners include ATSC, NTSC and QAM (digital cable).
Dimensions of REGZA Super Narrow Bezel Models
40-inch model (40RF350U):
° Unit (w/o Stand) WxHxD - 36.77 x 22.76 x 5.12 inches
° Unit (w/Stand) WxHxD - 36.77 x24.88 x 11.89 inches
46-inch model (46RF350U):
° Unit (w/o Stand) WxHxD - 42.13 x 25.94 x 5.31 inches
° Unit (w/Stand) WxHxD - 42.13 x 28.07 x 11.89 inches
