NuVision NVU46FX10LS LED 3DTV (TPV 100)

NuVision adds 3D to its custom line of LCD flat panels, which can be had in just about any color or finish type a customer desires

Specialty vendor NuVision adds 3D to their range of flat panel LCD TVs, which are designed to appeal to the high-end custom integration channel. Based on a Samsung LED edgelit 1080p imaging panel, NuVision specs their own electronics and connection configuration, including serial control compatibility, which is a must in the custom integration segment.

To appeal to customers who want to have their set feature a distinctive look, NuVision offers a broad range of color and finish options, including custom color matching as well as a variety of finish types such as powder coating, anodizing, metallic plating, and even faux marble. A client specifies a finish type and/or color, and NuVision provides a sample that the customer inspects and then signs off on the production order, and shortly thereafter has a customized HDTV that has the exact look they want.

NuVision cited one example of a client who owns a red Ferrari, and wanted to have one of their flat panels installed in his garage sporting the exact same color. A local Ferrari dealer near NuVision’s headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona was able to supply the paint to NuVision (not exactly cheap at $150 a quart) and shortly afterward, the customer had a high definition flat panel in his mancave/garage whose bezel color exactly matched that of his beloved sports car.

OVERVIEW

Consider this HDTV if: you need a good looking and well equipped LED LCD 3D HDTV that’s compatible with high end custom integration control systems such as Control4, Crestron and Savant, and can be had with a custom finish and/or color (at extra cost, as you’d expect).

Look elsewhere if: you don’t need external control system compatibility or custom cosmetics, as the NuVision is very pricey compared to other LED LCD 3D HDTVs from the major brands.

Ratings (relative to comparably-equipped 3D HDTVs)

• Overall picture quality (HD): 8
• Features: 7
• Connectivity: 9
• User interface: 8
• Value: 5

FEATURES

The NuVision is 3D ready out-of-the box, as it’s equipped with the necessary front panel infrared “blaster” that sends out a synchronizing signal to the active shutter 3D glasses. The set is equipped with a Samsung LED edgelit LCD imaging panel and backlighting optics, but the rest of the key components of the set including the ancillary electronics are of NuVision’s own design, as is the all-metal chassis, nicely trimmed in black anodized aluminum.

Currently however, the NuVision is only equipped to handle two of the three principal 3D formats, including so-called side-by-side and top-bottom, where the 3D image is derived from encoded split screen images. It’s not presently able to accept frame sequential 3D from Blu-ray, although NuVision is planning on adding this functionality later this year. So, each set currently ships with a Panasonic 3D Blu-ray player (DMP-BDT100), which is one of the few available 3D-capable Blu-ray players that can transcode frame sequential Blu-ray 3D content to either of the other two 3D signal formats. The company indicated their intent to offer an upgraded video circuit board to existing customers later this year, so that owners can use the set with other 3D Blu-ray players such as the PlayStation3.

For connection to deluxe automated home control systems, the set is equipped with their Nu Control port which is RS-232C compatible, but which sports an RJ-45 connector as opposed to the typical DB-9 jack. The company points out that in the field, it’s easier and quicker to reliably terminate control cabling with an RJ-45 connector, and the user documentation, at the outset, clearly points out that the port should not be connected to a home network, but instead only to a serial control-equipped automation system. The NuControl port can accept a wired infrared signal as well.

Along with the other two FX10 series models (a 55” size is available now, with a 40” version slated to debut late summer/early fall), the NuVision has 240 Hz screen refresh, and is equipped with two separate processing modes. The first, FX10 for “film times ten,” repeats each 1080p/24 movie frame nine additional times, to help eliminate flicker. The other mode, FFM for “frame forward motion,” is intended to sharpen up fast motion video images. The core video upconverter is a Faroudja “Cortez” class chip, one of the better performing premium video processor chips, which can deinterlace and upconvert standard definition content, as well as deinterlace 1080i HD content to 1080-line progressive.