Sony Says Goodbye to Rear-Projection TVs

Sony—consistently one of the top-rated rear-projection TV brands in our Ratings—says it will be getting out of that business once its inventories of products are depleted to focus on flat-panel LCD models. The company said it will continue to make front projectors.

With this rear-projection defection, Sony becomes the latest company to leave the microdisplay business to focus on flat-panel TVs. Earlier this year, Toshiba and Hitachi announced they would no longer make rear-projection sets. Philips left the business earlier.

Sony has used two technologies in its rear-projection sets. Lower-priced models used rear-projection LCD (also called 3LCD as its uses three LCD panels), while its higher-priced—and typically better-performing—models used SXRD technology, which is Sony's name for its implentation of LCoS. According to the company, it will continue to support its rear-projection TVs with parts and service for the foreseeable future.

There are still a number of companies, including Samsung, Mitsubishi, JVC and Panasonic, making rear-projection models. Samsung and Mitsubishi both use DLP technology, while Panasonic's sets are rear-projection LCD models. Ironically, there's still quite a bit of innovation going in the category. Samsung has several models that use LED backlights instead of conventional bulbs--LEDs don't require periodic replacement, and they're capable of a wider gamut of colors. At next month's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Mitsubishi is slated to unveil the first laser-lit model. Both companies also offer models that can be used to display 3D images when used with special glasses.

We'll be heading out to CES the week of January 7th, so make sure you check out our blogs for news from the show. Among other things, we'll be asking if any other companies intend to abandon the rear-projection business.—James K. Willcox