65” brushed-aluminum frame Lucidium FX5 Series:

The first thing you have to take notice of on this unit is the very stylish and classy black brushed-aluminum frame.  Resembling a picture frame more than an LCD bezel, it distinguishes itself perfectly from the typical gloss black frames found elsewhere in the marketplace. For those looking for an enormous LCD screen that can add another element to your décor, this might be your television.

Of course this unit isn’t for everyone, as many people wouldn’t even know where to put a 65” HDTV.  But if you have the budget ($12,500) and the space, the NuVision 65” is definitely worth a test drive.

Here is a look at the technology according to NuVision:  The FX5 Series are true 120Hz displays that feature NuVision’s FX5 (Film Times Five) and FFM (Frame Forward Motion) technologies.  The FX5 technology is NuVision’s answer for those looking for a true cinema experience. It eliminates the need for 3:2 pull down by duplicating each frame 5 times, fully utilizing the 120Hz panel. NuVision’s FFM technology is designed to create flicker-free fast sports and motion sequences by comparing two consecutive frames and generating additional interpolated frames.

But as we all know, we can hear about technology all day.  The bottom line is always, “how does the picture look?”  Well, in this instance the picture looks phenomenal. 

For me, the true test of an HDTV is how well it handles sports. As an NFL junkie, I wanted to see how the NuVision handled football games. It didn’t take long to realize that this 65” was the perfect accessory to an NFL weekend. For whatever reason, one of my favorite parts of being at the game, is noticing how wonderfully bright and white the home team’s jerseys are. As I sat, eyes glued to this 65” monolith, I saw those same at-the-game colors. It displayed the purity of the whites in vibrant life-like contrast to the darker blacks of the opponents’ jerseys. 

As the action went back and forth, the NuVision held up very well and didn’t give me the blur found in other 120Hz televisions. As the players cut left and right, their helmet logos were always intelligible and I could see every divot and grass clump they created as the pushed off the line. The images were so large, and so crisp, that I think I could have helped the referees spot the ball. Also, due to the size of the screen, I finally found a use for PIP, which displayed two 32” screens side by side.

With the games over, I made the switch to movies. Although I make it point to stay away from comic book movies, no genre is better for large explosions, over-the-top imagery, and pure sensory overload…so I fired up Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer.  Whether the scene was lit brightly or featured dark imagery, the NuVision didn’t disappoint.  Blacks were very deep and pure with no loss of detail. In the brighter scenes with the Silver Surfer, ever facet of his polished silver torso gleamed vibrant and realistic, well at least as realistic as a solid silver man could ever be

My biggest concern was installation issues. This is definitely not a set that you just pop on the wall, plug in and go, nor is it meant to be. This is a statement piece, and since you can only buy NuVision units through a custom installer or dealer, they take care of everything for you, eliminating all the guesswork on the install process.  NuVision does offer a stand ($499), for those of you who prefer to use a credenza opposed to a wall.

 

 

32” pink-framed Lucidium FX5 Series LCD at CEDIA 2009:

While I didn’t get to test out this unit on my own, I did get a chance to check it out the NVU32FX5P ($1,499) in the NuVision booth at CEDIA. I was very skeptical when I heard about the pink-framed unit, I feared seeing a lower end LCD to offset the custom colored bezel. From what I saw, NuVision certainly didn’t approach this LCD with the idea that it would only have a neat frame.

It’s still a true 120Hz picture, with all the bells and whistles of NuVision other 120Hz sets. While it might not be a great fit for your living room, your teen daughter would be absolutely thrilled to have one in her bedroom. Check her recent report card first though!  And if her grades aren’t up to your liking, maybe this is the carrot that could be dangled to get her back on the honor roll.

As a topper, NuVision is also donating a portion of the proceeds on this cute little display to breast cancer research.  So you can have a great picture while still giving something to a great cause.

 

 

55” LED Lucidium FX5LS Series:

The new 55” Edge-lit LED displays won’t be available until November, but that didn’t stop people from gawking and dreaming about the future. According to NuVision, the LED’s in the NVU55FX5LS ($5,999) provide truer colors and deeper blacks when compared with CCFL backlit LCD’s.  Several onlookers said, and I quote, “Wow”, I couldn’t have said it any better myself. I was truly floored by the performance of this LCD; The video connoisseur in me may finally have found the replacement for the much missed Pioneer Kuro,

The super-slim frame mounts beautifully on the wall and the greener technology of the LED’s mean they require less power to operate (roughly 155W, or less than 2 light bulbs).  NuVision unveiled their 55” at CEDIA, but these will also be available in 40” and 46”.

These should be available in enough time to get ready for the NFL playoffs. If you are looking for a visual stunner with the more personalized attention of the custom channel, visit nuvision.com to find a dealer in your area.