CES 2010: Sharp's new Aquos LED HDTVs display more than a trillion colors

When the number of colors an HDTV can display closes in on the amount of some countries' budget deficits, we're either witnessing a technological breakthrough or just a new marketing point. Sharp is trumping its new development in color reproduction—QuadPixel—which involves adding a fourth primary color to its new Aquos LED sets' gamut (yellow in addition to the usual red, green, and blue) to give them the ability to show over a trillion colors. (Remember when a million was a big deal?)

There are three new Aquos LED series sporting QuadPixel, ranging from the lower end LE810 to the top-of-the line LE920. And at the top of the LE920 series is the 68-inch LC-68LE920UN, which is joined by 60-inch and 52-inch models. The main extra features for the price include 240Hz refresh rates (AquoMotion 240) and a USB media player. It's not readily apparent why the LE820 series is pricier than the LE810 sets, as both have 120Hz refresh rates and include the same-size TVs. All the sets have an Ethernet port for Aquos Net's connected services, which now include Netflix's streaming-video service.

The LE820 prices range from $3,999.99 for the 60-inch LC-60LE820UN to $2,199.99 for the 40-inch LC-40LE820UN, while you'll pay $500 less for a 60-incher from the LE810 series and $400 less for a 40-inch version. The LE820 and LE810 sets will debut in March, but the LE920 series will bow in May at undisclosed prices (not a good sign if you're light in the wallet).

With LED-backlit LCDs continuing to drop in price, Sharp's betting that its fourth color filter will be worth the extra bucks. The proof, as always, will be in the pixel pudding.