IFA 2012: Sony intros 84-inch 4K Passive 3D LED TV

Sony has unveiled its first 4k resolution TV at the IFA technology expo in Berlin. The KD-84X9005 was hailed by new Sony president and CEO Kazuo Hirai as "a breakthrough television product." He said the set would be introduced worldwide before the end of the year. "If you remember being awestruck by the shift from standard to Full definition, the shift to 4K, with four times the resolution of Full HD, will rekindle or even exceed that sensation," he said.

The 8.29 megapixel screen is an edge-lit LED model offering Passive polarised 3D. 3D content when viewed on it is rendered in Full HD. Acknowledging the lack of 4K sources, the set upscales all incoming video sources to 4K. Demonstrations of Blu-ray looked astonishingly sharp and detailed, with no obvious visual artefacts. Native 4k footage, a concert sequence by the Berlin Philharmonic, appeared breathtakingly sharp. The set offers four HDMI inputs, of which two are able to accept a 4K input.

The screen incorporates an 4K version of Sony's X-Reality PRO' super-resolution high picture quality engine. With no visible pixel grid structure, it's possible to watch the screen at extremely close distances. High resolution digital still images can be viewed from USB. Sony will be issuing a firmware update to the PS3 which will enable it to output 4K resolution digital still images at some point over the next year.

The new 4K set also features a three-way 10-speaker system (total output 50W). Integrators should note that that the speakers can be removed if required. In other respects, it reflects the brands current consumer lines, with full internet connectivity and access to the Sony Entertainment Network.

The KD-84X9005 is priced at a not inconsiderable 25,000 euros. The brand hinted that the set was just the first of a wave of planned 4K resolution displays.