Syntax Launches LCoS TV and Larger LCD TVs

Since I’m working on our review of the Syntax Olevia 30″ LCD, I’ll try to keep this short. We’re loving the Olevia 30, and think Syntax is poised to continue to increase its market share with the addition of these new TVs.

Syntax has announced the immediate availability of its new 50″ LCoS rear-projection HDTV set (the LCT50HV), and the imminent arrival of the 32″ (LT32HV) and 37″ (LT37HV) Olevia Super-IPS LCD HDTVs.

The 50″ LCoS RPTV looks to be pretty kick-ass, with a starting price of only $2099 through PCConnection – no idea if other resellers will match that, or for how long it’ll stay that low. It uses a JVC three panel RGB LCoS system in order to deliver the best color possible, and an overnight email from Syntax corrected my earlier thoughts: it uses a Prokia optical engine (shame on me, I should have known that!) which they document as being a raw SXGA+ (1400x1050) pixel resolution.

The actual listed native resolution for the display is 1388 x 780 (yes, that’s 12 pixels taller than 768…), which is basically 16:9 768p resolution – so I can only assume that they are basically ‘cropping’ the imaging engine off the top and the bottom to get a resulting widescreen display rather than a 4:3 display. But, but using a newer-generation, higher-resolution imager should result is slightly higher quality visuals, especially from 1080i sources.

The Olevia LCoS 50″ boasts a huge 1000:1 contrast ration, 1000 nits brightness (adjustable), progressive scan imaging with 3:2 pull down, 3D comb filter, and noise reduction, plus a 170 degree horizontal/vertical view angle. Wow. It also packs in an NTSC tuner, plus expansive picture-in-picture support, component and progressive inputs, VGA input, and DVI/HDCP input, plus supposedly includes 3 composite and 2 s-video inputs (from the Syntax website). On the side, you get two 25W surround speakers in the cabinetry.

Next comes the new 32″ and 37″ Olevia LCD HDTV sets. The 32″ will launch late November at $1999, while the 37″ will launch late December for $2999. Both models have a 1366x768 resolution, with 1200:1 contrast, 800 nits brightness, Super-In-Plane-Switching-provided 8ms (’wicked fast’) pixel response, and the usual bevy of progressive scanning with 3:2 pull down, 3D comb filter, and one would assume from history some noise reduction system as well.

The 32″ model is bordered by two 15W stereo speakers, while the 37″ has two 20W speakers. Unlike the current models, the speakers look to be built into the casing and non-removeable. Both models include dual-tuner support (and multiple PIP/multi-picture modes) via a single cable-ready RF connection with live dual-splitscreen viewing, two composite/RCA inputs, three s-video inputs, one VGA and one DVI input, and dual component/progressive inputs – plus matching stereo audio RCA inputs (six of them!).

Other features seem to be reasonable matches to the current Olevia LCDs (i.e., they didn’t seem to drop any key features), including the noted ‘optional ATSC tuner replacement’ module that we all want to hear more about! Seems like all three models are actually reasonably matched in overall feature set (not surprising), with size, pricing, and overall technology the continued differentiators. And the current LCDs (20″, 27″, and 30″) are still well-featured and competitively priced models to look at too… 

Read on for the full press release, and commence drooling!