Sony beefs up Bravia LCD TV line

Seventh-generation panels

Sony today unveiled a range of Bravia LCD TVs, pitching the pricey but skinny alternative to standard CRT tellies. All but one of the new models sport seventh-generation LCDs with wide viewing angles and souped up backlights to deliver more realistic colour, Sony said.

The consumer electronics giant launched TVs in its Bravia V, S and X series. The V line-up comprises 32, 40 and 46in models, each with an integrated Freeview tuner - as do all the models unveiled today. The V and X series both feature Sony's new colour-range extending backlight, the WCG CCFL (Wide Colour Gamut Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp) which used phosphors developed for the company's Trinitron CRTs.

Sony Bravia X series

The result: enhanced reds and greens that "brings what you see closer to the true colours of nature than ever before", Sony claimed. The V series' screens have a 1300:1 contrast ratio, 8ms response time and a 178° viewing angle.

They're backed by a SRS TruSurround XT audio signal processing system to create a better sound pattern from the display's stereo speakers - also a feature of the S series screens, which use the same LCD technology, as do the X series models.

The S series screens have an HDMI connector - as do the other Bravias; two on the X series models, along with three SCART and two component ports - and come in 26, 32, 40 and 46in versions, though the 26in model lacks the seventh-generation LCD panel that all the others use. Each screen can display HDTV pictures at up to 1080i. The X series can run up to 1080p at 1920 x 1080.

The X screen also sports integrated speakers and Dolby Pro Logic II Virtual Surround digital signal processing, further enhanced by BBE Digital noise reduction technology.

Sony Bravia V series

There's no word yet from Sony on pricing or availability. ®

Sony Bravia S series