The major manufacturers are having a pre-CEDIA Expo fest this week across the pond at IFA in Berlin. New TV news is flying over the Atlantic, and it looks like Sony could have the most to boast. Sharp and Toshiba are also plenty busy announcing products to make our tongues wag.

Sony is going for some “bests” by showing off the smoothest and thinnest TVs available, due out this fall (in Japan first). Four sweet Bravia LCD series will be making appearances—the ZX1, W1, XR1 and X1 series. The latter two have release dates of October 10, and the former—and the ones most catching our eyes—on November 10.

Why are we already drooling over the ZX1 and W1 series? The 40-inch ZX1 Bravia LCD is just 9.9 millimeters deep—the world’s thinnest. The 40- and 46-inch W1 models will be the first to have super silky smooth Motionflow 240Hz technology—double the 120Hz that’s still only now making waves. Bring on those action movies and high-def sports—no blurring to see here.

Of course, the other Bravias aren’t slouches—there’s a dynamic contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1 on the XR1, which will be in 46 and 55 inches.

Sharp’s continuing to put its TVs on a slimming diet too. The company showcased its XS1 Aquos and D65E Aquos models at IFA, with the XS1 featuring a depth of 23 mm for the large screen sizes of 52 and 65 inches. They use 100Hz picture enhancement technology and a 6ms response time for crystal clear, smooth images.

TheD65E Aquos series also touts clarity and bright detail, with 20,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and 450 cd/m2 brightness. These LCDs will be out in sizes of 32, 37, 46 and 52 inches. Both new Aquos models will hit the UK in October.

Toshiba got into the act with a bunch of new TVs as well, including Regza ZF models that do their own upscaling of your standard-def images thanks to a cell-processor based system. The ZFs will come in 40 and 46 inches, with other goods like 30,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and Active Vision M100 100 Hz processing.

Tosh also updated its existing Regza entry-level 1080p XV series with 46- and 52-inch models, including a new gloss black bezel, and added a new RV line in sizes of 37, 42 and 46 inches. Due for an October launch in Europe.

Unfortunately we’re not in Germany to see these new models in person, but we will be at CEDIA in Denver next week, expecting more of the same. We’re also bound to get a more specific timetable for the U.S. debut of these and other new TVs, so stay tuned.

About the Author:
Arlen Schweiger - Managing editor of Electronic House Magazine

Arlen contributes product news items to electronichouse.com along with his role on the print publication. Got a tip? Send it along!