Hitachi Expands Projection Television Line Up With Nine New HDTV Monitors and Four New Conventional Sets
May 29, 2001 15:20 PM
--New Hitachi-exclusive features including D3VirtualHD Digital Processing Circuitry, Wide-Neck CRT's and Exclusive Lens Systems highlight line up--
NEW YORK, NY, http://www.hitachi.us/tv, May 29, 2001-Continuing it's leadership position in the HDTV monitor market, The Home Electronics Division of Hitachi America, Ltd., a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE:HIT), today announced nine new HDTV Monitors for 2001, ranging from $1,799 to $3,999. "Hitachi has been active in the development of the HDTV market, and the technology has continued to improve as the market has developed over the past four years," said Bill Whalen, Sr. Product and Marketing Manager for the Hitachi Home Electronics Division. "During the transition to HDTV, Hitachi recognizes the consumer demand for products that perform well with both NTSC and HDTV formats," said Whalen. "These new models will provide the consumer with unprecedented picture quality regardless of the signal source."
Hitachi also introduced today a new exclusive technology called D3VirtualHD digital signal processing. D3VirtualHD is a technology that gives the consumer the ability to choose between a 540p or 1080i display capability. D3VirtualHD matches the resolution of the broadcast signal to the high resolution monitor, giving the consumer a sharper, more detailed image that's smoother and more film-like than a 480p signal. (editor's note: Additional information regarding D3VirtualHD can be found in a separate announcement released today and can be found on http://www.hitachi.us/tv).
Highlighted Features for 2001 Line Up In addition to its D3VirtualHD digital signal processing circuitry and its proprietary, high quality lens and CRT technologies, Hitachi's 2001 television line includes the following features:
• New Magic Focus® 4 Sensor - Automatic Digital Convergence: Hitachi's new Magic Focus 4 (included in the SBX, UDX and UWX series projection televisions) will adjust the picture to match the home environment in as little as 10 seconds.
• User-Selectable Scan Velocity Modulation: Hitachi's new selectable scan velocity modulation feature gives users the option of engaging the function, which accentuates the picture edge definition between light and dark areas.
• User Selectable Black Level Expansion: Hitachi's new user-selectable black level expansion mode improves the pictures' perceived contrast ratio when engaged.
• Selectable Aspect Ratio Screen Modes: Hitachi's selectable aspect ratio screen modes give viewers the option to mold content to specific preferences. With 4:3 digital models, consumers can now easily select between four new aspect ratio modes to suit 16:9 sources: Aspect #1 for Gray Bars, which minimizes uneven aging of phosphors; Aspect #2 for Black Bars, which vertically compresses 1080i images with no loss of vertical information; Aspect #3 for Zoom, which eliminates bars and crops image; and Aspect #4 for Vertical Expansion Mode, which expands only the top and bottom edges of the image with no image cropping.
• Enhanced On-screen Display: Hitachi's enhanced on-screen display features easy point-and-click operation, new easy-to-read icons and fonts. English, Spanish and French languages are supported. Additionally, Hitachi has unified on-screen display for all its digital and analog televisions.
• Enhanced Remote Control: Hitachi's 2001 digital televisions are shipped with an enhanced remote control that features easy-to-use aspect ratio control, which navigates aspect ratio modes with a simple touch of a button. Also, the remote control includes new discrete input buttons and IR input codes.
Hitachi's UltraVision Digital® 61SWX10B and 53SWX10B 16:9 HDTV Monitors deliver advanced digital television technology and high definition capabilities. The SWX features Hitachi's D3VirtualHD digital signal processing and Magic Focus® 8 as well as Dolby Digital® 5.1 surround sound, the exclusive High Brightness 6 Element Lens System and new silver cabinet design. The 61SWX10B and the 53SWX10B retail for $3,999 and $3,499 respectively and will be available August 2001.
Hitachi expands the offering of UltraVision Digital 16:9 widescreen TV's with a new series for 2001. The UWX series adds a new size, 43 inches to compliment the 53 and 61 inch sizes. Featuring 1,200 lines of resolution and a 5-element lens system for optimal picture display. In addition, the UWX features Magic Focus® 4, 1080i/540p display and four screen fill modes. These sets include SRS®/BBE® surround sound with two 24-watt front speakers. Additional features include multi-view PiP, a remote with TSI discrete coding and new silver face cabinet design. The 61UWX10B retails for $3,499 and will be available August 2001. The 53UWX10B and the 43UWX10B retail for $2,999 and $2,199, respectively, and will be available July 2001.
Hitachi's UltraVision Digital 4:3 digital projection line features the 61 and 53-inch HDTV Monitor UDX series (61UDX10B and 53UDX10B) with D3VirtualHD digital signal processing circuitry. The UDX series also features 1,200 lines of resolution, 1080i/540p display resolution, a 5-element lens system and Magic Focus® 4 automatic digital convergence system. Other features include multi-view PiP, two component inputs and SRS/BBE surround sound with 24-watt front speakers. The 61UDX10B retails for $2,999 and will be available August 2001. The 53UDX10B retails for $2,499 and will be available July 2001.
Hitachi's GX series (50GX30B and 43GX10B) features a 5-element lens system and 850 lines of resolution with digital 2-line comb filter. In addition, the GX offers multi-view PiP, matrix surround sound, a total of three audio video inputs in the rear and one in the front, and 9-point digital convergence. The 50GX30B retails for $1,699 and will be available July 2001. The 43GX10B retails for $1,599 and will be available June 2001.
Rounding out Hitachi's analog 4:3 projection television line is the DX series (60DX10B and the 50DX10B). These sets feature two tuner PiP, manual 9-point convergence and 850 lines of resolution for a clear, focused picture. Other features include matrix surround sound with two 24-watt front speakers, an upgraded remote and new on-screen design. The 60DX10B retails for $1,899 and will be available July 2001. The 50DX10B retails for $1,399 and will be available June 2001
The Hitachi America, Ltd., Home Electronics Division markets a variety of consumer electronics including high-definition TVs (HDTV), projection TVs (PTV), color TVs, DVD players, VCRs and camcorders, as well as security and observation system products. The company's premium products are sold under the Hitachi UltraVision and UltraVision Digital brand names.
Hitachi America, Ltd., a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., markets and manufactures a broad range of electronics, computer systems and products, consumer electronics and semiconductors and provides industrial equipment and services throughout North America. For more information, visit http://www.hitachi.us/.
Hitachi, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is one of the world's leading global electronics companies, with fiscal 2000 (ended March 31, 2001) consolidated sales of 8,417 billion yen ($67.9 billion*). The company manufactures and markets a wide range of products, including computers, semiconductors, consumer products and power and industrial equipment. For more information on Hitachi, Ltd., please visit Hitachi's Web site at http://hitachi.com.
*At an exchange rate of 124 yen to the dollar.
UltraVision Digital is a registered trademark of Hitachi Home Electronics, (America) Inc. UltraVision is a registered trademark of Hitachi Home Electronics, (America) Inc. Magic Focus is a registered trademark of Hitachi Home Electronics, (America) Inc. Dolby Digital is a registered trademark of Dolby Laboratories. SRS is a registered trademark of Sound Retrieval Systems. BBE is a registered trademark of BBE, Sound Inc. DMD™ and DLP™ are registered trademarks of Texas Instruments, Inc.
Gerard F. Corbett
Hitachi America, Ltd.
Vice President
Corp. Communications Group
Tel:(650) 244-7900
Fax: (650) 244-7920
gerard.corbett@hal.hitachi.com
Greg Belloni
The Weber Group
Tel: (415) 616-6139
gbelloni@ca.webergroup.com
Renee Linholm
The Weber Group
Tel: (415) 616-6003
rlinholm@ca.webergroup.com
For all other inquiries please call:
1-800-HITACHI
If you have any questions specifically about Investor Relations in the United States, please contact our Investor Relations Department at investor.info@hal.hitachi.com
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