Sharp in Japan has announced that they’ll be coming out with a new line of AQUOS HDTVs that are equipped with built-in Blu-ray disc recorders. Comprised of five models that range from 26 to 52 inches, the new BD-equipped sets will all fall under the brand’s AQUOS DX2 line.
The Blue-ray drives on these HDTVs are listed to store 7x more content compared to usual Blu-ray discs while retaining picture quality. The five models sport differing specs, with the 40, 46, and 52-inch models coming with LCD panels that support 1080p resolutions, 15000:1 contrast ratios and three HDMI ports, while the smaller, cheaper models (26 and 32-inches) feature a 720p resolution, 7000:1 contrast ratio, and only 2 HDMI ports.
All five models feature internet connectivity via an Ethernet port, and come with support for BD-Live, IPTV, and Yahoo’s widget based content for HDTVs. The BD recorders can do scheduled program recordings via the interface, and can store up to 30 hours of HD video on a dual layer 50GB disc.
All AQUOS DX2 models will start shipping on September 10th in Japan, with the 26, 32, and 40-inch models available in black, white, and red colors. The 46 and 52-inchers will only be available in black or white. No word on availability outside of Japan just yet, but they’re listed to sell for the equivalent of $5,048 (52”), $3,993 (46”), $2,943 (40”), $2,000 (32”), and $1,787 (26”).
Tags: Blu-ray, Digital Displays, HDTV, Sharp
