Digital Trends

Hitachi 57S700

August 30th, 2004 | by Dennis Barker

Features and Design

As you may be aware with many front and rear CRT-based projectors, converging the three picture tubes is certainly a problem, can be quite a hassle, and cumbersome at best.   It was a snap with the 57S700 because of its internal digital convergence circuitry — a feature Hitachi rear projection sets have had for years.  Simply invoke ‘Magic Focus' from the on-screen menus, and it automatically converges the set to factory specifications.  Of course, this can also be accomplished manually (for those of us die hard videophiles) via the remote control also allowing you to make up to 117-point adjustments.  The convergence screen really tells the tale here with various grid patterns placed on-screen.  All grid lines were straight and true with virtually no distortion from corner-to-corner or edge-to-edge.     

One of the beauties of this set is that its ATSC tuner is integrated into the 57S700.  Simply plug in your incoming signal cable (from your off-air antenna or cable company) into either Ant. A or B that feeds the signals directly into the ATSC/QAM tuner.  At the touch of a button on your remote, it automatically programs all receivable HD channels in your area both over-the-air and in-the-clear cable    Housed in a finely crafted black wood cabinet featuring a silver trim around the screen, the 57S700 features twin 181-channel NSTC tuners with auto programming.  NTSC images are further enhanced through the use of a digital 4MB 3D-Y/C comb filter, which helps reduced artifacts and dot crawl overall that are found in the NTSC signal.    Other key video enhancement features include: video noise reduction, advanced scan velocity modulation, black level expansion, adjustable color temperature control, and point motion adaptive video processing.  All of these video enhancement features can be turned off or on as needed (via the supplied remotes).  Combined together, this stunning example of HDTV prowess is capable of processing 480i/480p/540p/ 720p/1080i signals by using its 3:2 progressive scan film correction, 26-point motion adaptive video processing; and displaying those images (user-selectable) at either up converted 540p or 1080i (called Virtual HD) for non-HD sources.  Overall, the set is capable of displaying 1280 lines of horizontal resolution, and features six widescreen fill modes.

The back of the Hitachi 57S700 features plenty of connectors

The ergonomically-designed universal remote will completely control a total of 8 separate components.  Connections include three antenna RF inputs (one dedicated for over-the-air ATSC signals and one for cable QAM), 3 A/V inputs, 3 S-Video along with 2 HD-grade Component Video inputs, and 1 A/V/S-Video output.  There is also 1 front A/V/S-Video input hidden under a drop down panel.   As mentioned above, there is also a digital audio (optical) output so that you can separately pass Dolby Digital 5.1 surround or digital audio to a separate A/V Receiver or Processor.   Also included is a DVI (digital visual interface) with HDCP copy protection connector and twin two-way 4-pin IEEE1394 connector with 5C copy protection as well.  This makes the 57XWX a set for today and tomorrow.