Panasonic introduces 65″ VX300 plasma display for home theaters
Panasonic has announced a new 3D plasma display for use in home theaters. The ‘professional’ VX300 series succeeds the current VX200 series and is initially available with a screen size of 65 inches.
The new VX300 series is from October available in a 65″ version, but the line will be expanded with an 85″, 103″ and 152″ version at an undisclosed time. The VX200 was also available in these last three sizes, but 85″ was the smallest screen size for the VX200 series. The TH-65VX300ER, a UK version of the display, was previously shown at the CEDIA Home Theater trade show in Panasonic, according to Panasonic. UK Panasonic did not disclose a suggested retail price for the 65″ VX300 model.
The VX300 is equipped with, among other things, a newly developed video processor. This may be the new UniPhier chip from Panasonic, with type number MN2WS0220. This chip contains two ARM Cortex-A9 cores running at a clock speed of 1.4GHz.
In addition to using the display in home cinemas, Panasonic also thinks it will tap into other markets with the VX300 series. For example, according to Eduard Gajdek, product manager for professional displays at Panasonic Germany, the VX300 plasma series can also be used for video editing or design departments, for example.
To underline the professional character of the plasma display, the VX300 series is equipped with extensive graphics options. For example, it is possible to display the images for the left and right eye simultaneously on the screen for color correction of 3D video content, and a so-called wave form monitor functionality can be called up. With the latter possibility, the incoming video signal can be easily assessed and corrected. In addition, extensive setting options for white balance and gamma are available.
The main difference between the VX300 series and, for example, the Viera VT30, a consumer plasma TV, is that the VX300 does not have a built-in TV tuner and speakers. However, inputs for HDMI are available, among other things. Also, the VX300 series is only available through specialty stores that install home theaters, while the Viera plasma TVs are sold in regular stores.