We've covered a couple QUALIA products here o­n TechJapan in the past, and the general impression I get is that they're aimed at people with too much money who want a gadget or two sitting around so they can impress their other friends who also likely have too much money.

The QUALIA 001 is no exception. Called the "Creation Box," the QUALIA 001 is a video convertor, that will convert SD/HD video to higher quality signal. Whether or not this quality difference is worth 525,000 yen (about $5,100 USD), I'm quite suspicious.

Sony will begin accepting orders o­n January 29th for the "Creation Box (Q001-CB01)," a video convertor unit that convers SD/HD video into higher quality. The price is 525,000 yen.

The product was developed as a product in Sony's hand-made, limited quantity "Qualia" brand. It contains the independently developed "DRC-MFv2" video signal processing technology, and not o­nly converts input video signals into higher quality, but also provides a high quality zoom function.

The DRC-MFv2 circuitry is the same circuitry included in the upper-level "QUALIA 005," a TV that uses an LED backlight. The system differs from conventional systems that simply use a linear interpolation system to expand pixels, by offering up a digital mapping processor, reportedly producing a higher quality and sharper signal.

SD video can be output directly as an HD signal after conversion, and the output resolutions are 1920 x 1080 (1080i), and WXGA (1366 x 768). Also, the 1080i HD signal can be output as a 1080i/WXGA, said to "remodel the HD signal to give a realistic sense of depth."

Also, the "Creation View" function can magnify sections of the screen realtime, up to 9x (3x horizontal and vertical), with little loss of quality, thanks to the DRC-MFv2 functionality. While watching a live broadcast, any section of the screen can be chosen to be zoomed in o­n.

Furthermore, the QUALIA 001 can be optimized to display certain devices such as DVD and VHS, or be optimized to display using devices such as a CRT TV, LCD TV, or front-panel projector. The "DRC-MF Palette" offers up a dual-axis coordinate system, allowing users to select certain video characteristics from "crisp" and "low noise."

DRC-MF mode offers "Mode 1," intended for use with HDTV and DVD, and "Mode 2," intended for display of weather reports, still images, and data broadcasts.

The system is equipped with a Component 1 input (Component/Analog Audio), Component 2 input (D4/Analog Audio), and Video 1/2/3 (S-Video, Composite, Analog Audio) inputs. Output ports include a Component Output and Analog RGB output. The external dimensions are 430 x 390 x 93.5mm (W x D x H), and it weighs about 10.5kg. A remote controller is included.



Inspired by:
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20050112/sony.htm

Press Release:
http://www.sony.jp/CorporateCruise/Press/200501/05-0112/