Our pics of this incredibly thin LCD have to be seen to be believed. Sony says this HD TV makes ordinary LCD TVs look like CRTs, and they're not far off.
[See our launch photo gallery of the Sony Bravia ZX1 by clicking the images on the right]
We were fortunate to attend the worldwide launch of the stunning Sony Bravia ZX1 today, and we can report it's something to behold.
Sony claims the 40in unit - which comes in one size only and we're told will go onsale next year - is the thinnest LCD TV in the world. It's actually 9.9mm thick, which if you're wondering, is about the same as a regular width CD jewel case.
Sony reps told us the TV makes ordinary LCD TVs "look like CRTs" when hung on a wall. The unit also weighs only 12Kg, which is featherweight, compared to 40inch TVs like the Sony Bravia KDL40X3100, which weighs in at 26Kg without the stand.
As well as being incredibly thin, the ZX1 uses side-mounted LEDs instead of backlighting - Sony's is calling this "Edge LED".
The ZX1's black box
This is perhaps the most interesting thing about the ZX1. Sony has pulled all the input/output jacks, picture processing and tuner, out of the TV and placed them into a separate box, which communicates wirelessly with the TV via proprietary Bravia 1080 Wireless. Sony says range to the box is 15 meters.
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| The width of a CD jewel case - a side view of the Sony ZX1 |
The end result is the ZX1 has no cables - except for a single power cord. Things like HDMI and RGB ports, the MPEG4 AVC HD tuner, and Bravia Engine processing are located remotely, in the media receiver - that's also where you connect PlayStation 3, Foxtel and the like. About the only thing missing is a hard drive.
LED Backlighting is here
The other technology making its appearance felt in a big way is LED Backlighting, which is used in the ZX1, as well as the new XBR Series (though not the Z Series). In the case of the ZX1, Sony has used side mounted LEDs, a setup it has dubbed Edge LED.
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| Look ma, one cable - the Sony ZX1 conects wirelessly to a video source box, so the only cable you see near the screen is the power cable. |
It's thin, but what's the picture like?
Interestingly the ZX1 makes use of 100Hz Motionflow, though not the 200Hz Motionflow seen in the cutting edge Bravia Z Series (also launched today).
While the warehouse setting for today's Sony's launch wasn't ideal viewing conditions, we impressed by what we saw of the picture quality.
The only thing left for Sony to announce now is the price, something that makes us get a little queasy inside.
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| The ZX1 media receiver - contains the ZX1's HDMI connections, Bravia Engine processing and other bits and pieces |
Also see our story Sony pumps Motionflow 200Hz with new Bravia Z Series
Also see our story Sony Vaio TT, breakthrough ultra-light Blu-Ray notebook