Hitachi Plasma - User Manual

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Summary

Hitachi UltraVision Plasma HDTV Introduction

Hitachi UltraVision Plasma HDTV Series

Product Overview and Benefits

Describes the unsurpassed performance, beauty, and life-like picture quality of the UltraVision Plasma HDTV Series.

Hitachi Plasma Display Technologies

High Aperture Technology

Enhances picture brightness, contrast, and color reproduction by opening pixel apertures for smoother, brighter images.

Pure HDTV Color

Reproduces the full range of HDTV colors with special phosphor and gas for vibrant, pure image quality.

Hitachi 1,080 Line Display Technology

Increases display resolution to over 1.1 million pixels for optimal 1,080 HDTV signal display and life-like detail.

Hitachi Plasma HDTV Models and Features

HDS69 UltraVision Plasma HDTV Key Features

Lists key features for the HDS69 model, including world's highest resolution 42" Plasma and HDMI digital interface.

HDT79 UltraVision CineForm Plasma HDTV Features

Details HDT79 features like CineForm, USB Photo Input, and digital color management, plus enhancements over HDS69.

Advanced Hitachi UltraVision Technologies

HDMI Digital Interface

Provides industry-leading digital input capability with three digital high definition sources for home theater use.

PictureMaster HD III Video Processor

Digitally processes each image for maximum sharpness, color reproduction, and vivid, realistic motion sequences.

16% Brighter Panel Technology

Delivers a brighter, more vivid picture while using less electricity compared to previous generation panels.

New Natural Color Anti-Reflective Glass Screen

Minimizes room light reflections, improving light transmission, color purity, and contrast for realistic picture quality.

Control and Tuner Features

Instant Control with Illuminated Remote

Describes the slim, ergonomic remote with illuminated buttons for easy operation of home theater components.

Day & Night Picture Memory by Input

Allows separate Day and Night picture settings for superior image quality in any lighting condition via button or timer.

Quick Start Seamless HDTV and NTSC Tuner

Offers fast startup and seamless channel scanning for both analog and digital HDTV and NTSC signals.

The Hitachi UltraVision Plasma HDTV series represents a sophisticated line of high-definition televisions designed to deliver an immersive home theater experience with advanced picture quality and user-friendly features. This series includes both 42-inch and 55-inch models, each boasting specific technical advancements tailored for optimal viewing.

Function Description:

The primary function of the Hitachi UltraVision Plasma HDTV is to display high-definition video content from various sources, including broadcast television, cable, satellite, and external media devices. It serves as the central display unit for a home entertainment system, offering a vivid and detailed picture quality suitable for movies, sports, gaming, and general television viewing. The integration of multiple input options ensures compatibility with a wide range of modern and legacy devices.

Important Technical Specifications:

Display Technology:

Plasma Display: Utilizes plasma technology, known for its deep blacks, wide viewing angles, and fast response times, which are crucial for smooth motion in fast-paced content.
High Aperture Technology (55" models): This proprietary Hitachi technology optimizes each pixel's aperture, resulting in a brighter, smoother overall picture with deeper, truer colors and improved contrast compared to conventional plasma televisions. This is achieved through years of research and refinement in plasma panel design.
1,080 Line Display Technology (42" models): The 42-inch models feature an innovative plasma technology that increases display resolution to over 1.1 million pixels (1,024 x 1,080i). This provides up to 40% more active pixels than conventional high-definition plasma televisions, delivering life-like images with greater precision, especially for 1,080 HDTV signals.
Pure HDTV Color: A special phosphor and gas formulation allows Hitachi Plasma displays to reproduce the full range of HDTV colors, enhancing the richness of reds, greens, and blues for a vibrant and pure image quality superior to conventional plasma HDTVs.
16% Brighter Panel Technology (42" models): New Hitachi Plasma panel technology increases brightness by 16% while simultaneously using 39% less electricity compared to previous generation panels, offering a more vivid and realistic picture with improved energy efficiency.
High-Contrast Black Rib Structure (55" models): This structural enhancement contributes to deeper black levels and improved contrast, essential for a cinematic viewing experience.
New Natural Color Anti-Reflective Glass Screen: A special coating on the screen minimizes distracting room light reflections, improving light transmission and color purity, and enhancing contrast for dramatically more realistic picture quality.

Resolution:

42-inch models (42HDS69, 42HDT79): 1,024 x 1,080i Display Resolution. Hitachi highlights this as the world's highest resolution 42" Plasma as of May 2006.
55-inch models (55HDS69, 55HDT79): 1,366 x 768p Display Resolution.

Color Capability:

16-Bit/281 Trillion Color Capability: The PictureMaster™ HD III Video Processor enables an industry-leading color depth, allowing for incredibly smooth color gradations and accurate reproduction of a vast spectrum of colors.

Video Processing:

PictureMaster™ HD III Video Processor: This ultra-fast digital video processor analyzes and digitally processes each image for maximum sharpness and color reproduction. It predicts the motion of on-screen images to reproduce vivid and realistic motion sequences, delivering a superior viewing experience. It also features dynamic histogram processing for optimal digital image quality, improving depth, detail, and impact in both bright and dark scenes.

Audio:

36-Watt 3-Way Speaker System: Provides robust and clear audio output, complementing the high-quality visual experience.

Connectivity:

HDMI™ Digital Interface x (3): Three HDMI inputs provide industry-leading digital input capability, allowing for the connection of multiple high-definition sources (e.g., Blu-ray players, gaming consoles, set-top boxes). These inputs are compatible with DVI-HDTV (HDCP) signals when combined with an adapter cable (not included).
Component Video Inputs x (3): Three component video inputs offer additional high-definition analog connectivity for various devices.
Optical Digital Audio Output: For connecting to external audio receivers or sound systems, providing high-quality digital audio.
USB Photo Input (HDT79 models only): Allows users to view digital photos directly on the TV, making it easy to run slide shows.

Tuner:

Quick Start Seamless HDTV and NTSC Tuner: Hitachi HDTV tuner technology provides a unique blend of convenience and performance, delivering the picture quickly with seamless access to available channels without extended start-up times or complex programming often associated with conventional HDTV tuners.
Digital Cable Ready (QAM) / CableCARD™ Compatible: This feature allows the television to receive basic analog, digital basic, and digital premium cable television programming by direct connection to a cable system. A security card (CableCARD™) provided by the cable operator is required for encrypted digital programming. Certain advanced interactive digital cable services (e.g., video-on-demand, enhanced program guide) may require a separate set-top box.

Usage Features:

Remote Control:

Fully Illuminated Roll & Click™ Remote (HDT79 models only): Features a slim, ergonomic design with illuminated buttons for easy use in various lighting conditions. It is preprogrammed to control many home theater components. Unique rolling wheels allow for quick adjustment of volume or channel browsing.
Universal Remote Control (HDS69 models): A standard universal remote for controlling the TV and other compatible devices.
Discrete IR Codes: Allows for precise control of the TV within a complex home theater setup, preventing unintended commands to other devices.

Picture Modes and Adjustments:

Day & Night Picture Memory by Input with Timer: Separate Day and Night picture settings deliver superior image quality for any lighting condition. Users can toggle between bright daytime settings and high-fidelity nighttime settings for each source by pressing a button on the remote or using an automatic timer.
Multiple Screen Modes: Provides a wide range of options for viewing standard 4:3 programming on the 16:9 widescreen display, ensuring optimal picture quality from any source.
16:9 Standard with Zero Overscan: Displays widescreen content without cropping the edges, preserving the original aspect ratio.
4:3 Expanded Mode for All TV Signals: Allows 4:3 content to be displayed in an expanded format to fill the widescreen display.
Split Screen/Picture in Picture (with Tuner Only): Enables viewing of two different sources simultaneously, with one main picture and a smaller inset picture.
Digital Color Management III (HDT79 models only): Allows for fine-tuning of color performance to precisely match the color palette of a digital camera or other sources.
Adjustable Color Decoder (HDT79 models only): Provides further control over color accuracy and reproduction.

Convenience Features:

TV Guide On Screen® IPG (HDT79 models only): An integrated program guide that promotes intuitive operation for easily finding favorite programs.
Quick Start Seamless HDTV and NTSC Tuner: Ensures fast access to available channels.
Multiple Screen Savers: Helps prevent screen burn-in, a common concern with plasma displays.
IR Outputs / IR Pass Through (HDT79 models only): For integrating with external IR control systems.

Physical Design:

Black Side Speakers (HDT79 models only): Elegantly frame the advanced Hitachi Plasma display, contributing to a sleek aesthetic.
Manual Swivel Tabletop Stand (Included with 42" models, Optional for 55" HDS69 model): Allows for easy adjustment of the viewing angle.
Power Swivel Tabletop Stand (Optional for 55" HDT79 model): Offers motorized adjustment of the viewing angle for enhanced convenience.
Fixed Tabletop Stand (Optional for 55" models): Provides a stable, non-swiveling base.
Wall Mounting Bracket (Optional Tilt WM51): Allows for wall-mounting the television.

Maintenance Features:

Multiple Screen Savers: Designed to protect the plasma panel from image retention or "burn-in" by periodically shifting the image or displaying a dynamic pattern when static images are present for extended periods. This is a crucial maintenance feature for plasma technology.
New Natural Color Anti-Reflective Glass Screen: While primarily a viewing enhancement, the anti-reflective coating can also make the screen easier to clean by reducing glare and making dust or smudges more visible.

The Hitachi UltraVision Plasma HDTV series combines cutting-edge display technologies, powerful video processing, and a comprehensive suite of user-centric features to deliver a premium home theater experience. Its focus on color accuracy, motion clarity, and high resolution, coupled with thoughtful design and connectivity options, positions it as a sophisticated choice for discerning viewers.