Sharp unveiled new Aqous DX line of LCD HDTVs featuring world first built-in Blu-ray recorder that compresses and record video content in MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 format. The compression increases the video storage capacity of Blu-ray disc by 5 times and a 50GB disc can record up to 22 hours of content. The unit can also play Blu-ray, DVD and CDs. The load time for Blu-ray disc is also fast on the HDTV, it takes only 3 seconds to start playing or capturing the video.
Sharp will release 16 HDTVs that will come with the Blu-ray unit. Four units that include 52-inch LC-52DX1, 46-inch LC46-DX1, 42-inch LC42DX1 and 37-inch LC-37DX1 will have full HD 1080p resolution, 120Hz image engine and 15,000:1 contrast ratio. The 52-inch TV will be price 500,000 Yen ($5,000), 46-inch model will be priced 450,000 Yen ($4,420), 42-inch model will be priced 380,000 Yen ($3,730) and the 37-inch model will 300,000 Yen ($2,950). On the lower-end Sharp will launch a 32-inch LC-32DX1 and a 26-inch LC-26DX1 model that will feature 1366 x 768 resolution and 1500:1 contrast ratio. The 32-inch model will cost 200,000 Yen ($1960) and the 26-inch model will cost 170,000 Yen ($1,670).