Runco sticking by plasma displays

With companies heading for the exits at chez plasma, smaller vendors -- most of whom do not have in-house plasma manufacturing -- are left in a precarious position. In what may well be the waning hours for plasma TVs, high-end brand Runco is staying in the game for one last (high margin, we imagine) round. LCDs are catching up to the image quality of even top-tier plasmas, but there's still a performance gap in areas that some consumers value. Somehow we didn't envision Runco outlasting Pioneer in the plasma game, but it's "business as usual" for Runco plasma TVs spanning the 50-inch to 103-inch range; perfect for that "secondary" TV for guests who don't want to watch what's on your $40,000 Runco VideoWall, don't you think? Beaverton, OR – April 28, 2009 – Runco, the leading brand in luxury video solutions, has confirmed its unyielding commitment to deliver premium flat-panel displays to the custom installation industry. In a marketplace where an increasing number of video display manufacturers are exiting the custom flat-panel market in favor of mass market retail or discontinuing their flat panel product lines altogether, Runco remains focused on providing its dealers with the highest-performing luxury video displays for custom application and viewing environment.

"At Runco, image quality and performance are our top priorities," said Matt Christensen, manager of product marketing for Runco. "Our flat panel displays deliver the highest-fidelity video performance with the most accurate color reproduction and a rich, cinematic feel. Unlike other brands that proved unsuccessful in providing flat panel solutions for dealers within the custom installation channel, Runco continues to provide LCDs and plasmas that are demonstrably superior to the ubiquitous big-brand panels. We are now offering Runco dealers the widest range of custom flat-panel solutions that are the industry benchmark for exceptional video quality and are available in massive screen sizes with innovative proprietary technologies found only in Runco panels."

Runco is now shipping its entire portfolio of LCD flat-panel displays, which offer high-performance video solutions for rooms of distinction, as well as luxury outdoor living spaces. For indoor and outdoor environments with high levels of ambient light, Runco LCDs deliver a masterful blend of image prowess, impeccable design and state-of-the-art craftsmanship. Runco's large selection of high-definition LCD flat panels offers a broad range of screen sizes to meet the viewing needs in any room, now ranging from 32 to 70 inches.

For the ultimate flat-panel theater experience, Runco also touts a refreshed line of plasma displays with a wide range of screen sizes, from 50 inches to the massive XP-103DHD, which measures 103 inches in diagonal. The company's CinemaWall™ and PlasmaWall™ plasma displays elevate image quality to the highest levels of full 1080p resolution, and boast impressive brightness and contrast ratio, deep black levels and the most accurate colorimetry available. Like their sister LCDs, Runco's plasma line incorporates signature engineering enhancements and sophisticated technologies, exclusive Vivix™ processing (internal and external) and control options to perfectly display all video content, protecting image integrity while providing the utmost installation versatility for Runco dealers.

In addition to proprietary video processing and image correction technologies, Runco flat panels are available with Runco's exclusive new OPAL™ (Optical Path Alignment) image enhancement technology. OPAL is a proprietary new technology from Runco designed to enhance flat panels in their optimal applications. When applied to its LCDs, Runco's OPAL preserves the integrity of video content in high ambient light, which directly competes against and degrades LCD images and distracts from the experience. Runco's OPAL utilizes proprietary micro-visual surface treatment of the LCD panel to reduce internal and surface reflections by more than 20 times, increase contrast by more than three times, and enhance protection of the panel from contamination from dust, condensation and even the occasional blow from a handheld gaming remote. When applied to plasma, Runco's OPAL thrives in lower-light applications to create a cinema-quality experience. The OPAL technology within Runco plasma significantly enhances the black level, detail and clarity specifically within dark scenes. Runco's OPAL technology allows the smallest details within the darkest scenes to be vibrant without sacrificing the overall picture quality. Only Runco offers superior OPAL engineering to provide a truly stellar viewing experience to achieve the best imagery, technology and HD performance in any flat panel application.

Runco's PlasmaWall and CinemaWall plasma display monitors, Crystal Series™ and Climate Portfolio™ LCDs are now availablethrough authorized Runco dealers. Runco's CX-OPAL47 and weather-proof Climate Portfolio WP-OPAL42 LCDs are the first Runco products currently available with OPAL. Runco will be offering its CinemaWall and PlasmaWall products with proprietary Runco's OPAL technology in the near future.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 28th 2009 9:22PM]

Look at Samsung. They have a full line of plasma displays coming out for 2009...yet there is no promotion.

Yet if I were to say, "Awesome cyber hummingbird", to anyone who has been to Best Buy (endcap and commercials in store), looked on Samsung's website (homepage), etc., you would probably know I was talking about their new LED backlit LCD's.

All the press and promotion is being dedicated to LCD's, this is why people are forgetting about plasma. It is a self-fulfilling prophesy.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 28th 2009 9:28PM]

Yeah what he said....

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 28th 2009 10:21PM]

Isn't Runco plasma's re branded Panasonic plasma's?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 28th 2009 11:36PM]

They use to be NECs (Same as Pioneer for years) with new video boards, but now they probably are Panasonic panels. Given that Panasonics are lean on picture controls and poor video processing, Runcos may truly add value to Panasonics panels. Runco plasmas have consistently sold excellent plasmas, so if Runco can get a hold of current gen panels, they will become top dog in video.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 29th 2009 1:36AM]

Judging by the 103", I would have to assume so.

It would be interesting to know what, if any, modifications are made. Maybe they are just the pick of the litter?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 29th 2009 12:39AM]

Runco died when Planar bought them a couple years ago. Since then Planar has struggled to capture the growth that they expected from the Runco brand. Hats off to Sam Runco for selling at the peak of the market that he helped create.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 29th 2009 7:41AM]

Plasma is junk.. and it's heavy junk to boot. Just do us all a favour and throw them away so we won't have to do the heavy lifting ourselves.

[skeelo58 Posted Apr 29th 2009 9:20AM]

LCD is crap. Plasma owns LCD in almost every way possible. I love how you LCD fanboys go out and say "ohhhh plasma is so heavy" Seriously, wtf. Are you people carrying these TV's on your back or something? I don't know about you, but once my TV was hung on the wall, it hasn't moved.

A big TV will take 2 people to lift it regardless. Have fun with your crap LCD. Us plasma owners will enjoy are superior plasmas. Just cuz you got suckered into buying LCD (crap), doesn't mean you have to go around on the internet bashing plasmas.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 29th 2009 9:27AM]

Plasma is junk.. and it's heavy junk to boot. - says koehler83 (girlie man?)


(he must be cranky this morning)

Kuro owner here, happy with my 5020 and the perfect picture quality, few are finer. Buying the Kuro KRP-500M this afternoon (an Elite panel actually) for the living room. 69lbs ain't heavy, cmon.

52" Samsung LCD = 67 lbs.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 29th 2009 9:49AM]

Actually Tony the KRP-500M is not an Elite. It has no ISFFcc mode or the 2 year warranty that comes with Elites. The AR filter is the same as the Elites though.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 29th 2009 10:02AM]

Good to hear! Plasma Technology is still the VERY BEST picture quality when it comes to TV's. I own the 5020FD and the Panny 850U. Never EVER been more happier!


Chris
www.highefjunkies.com