By Will Sullivan
Contributing Writer, [GAS]

JVC has kept a relatively low consumer electronics profile in recent years—especially compared to its glory days—e.g. basically taking a “wait-and-see” attitude during the recent Blu-ray vs. HD-DVD format war, certainly failing to keep up with its competitors on most audio/video technologies. Their HDTV offerings have been less restrained (their current L-CoS front projectors still remain the PJs to beat in terms of actual, observable contrast/shadow detail, for example). However, JVC apparently is out to give its competitors battle on multiple fronts, if their flurry of product rollouts is any indication.

HDTV Offerings

Four new LCD-TVs offering Full HD (1080p) resolution, with dynamic backlight regulation for higher contrast. No word on some specifics (e.g. 120Hz capability, claimed contrast specs, prices, etc.), but availability was given: LT-32J300 (32″ class): March; LT-42J300 (42″ class): March; LT-46J300 (46″ class): March; LT-52J300 (52″ class): August. Additionally, the new LT-42B300 (42″ class) will include a built-in Blu-ray player. Availability: June.

[Read: JVC Press Release, 42B300 Press Release]

Camcorders Galore

Count ’em: 8! Eight new “Everio”-branded camcorders! Ranging in price from $799 down to $299 MSRP, they also range in function and functionality, with three new Everio HD-series units capable of recording at full HD (1920 X 1080p) in the expanded x.v. Color-space and with newly-designed Konica-Minolta lenses, and with storage ranging from flash memory (SDHC cards) or—uniquely, I believe, a combo of SDHC and hard drives (120GB or 60GB); three new Everio G-series units that are standard-def, and all of which offer the combo SDHC/hard-drive combo storage capability, in sizes of 60GB, 80GB and 120GB, with the top two models offering upconversion to 1920 x 1080p and output to HDTVs (no substitute for actual HD-recording, btw); the Everio S-series, with two standard-def models, and storage of the top unit being two SDHC card slots (the lower-end unit offers an SDHC slot and 16GB of internal memory).

[Read: JVC Press Release]

Blu-ray offerings

Finally, a JVC Blu-ray player in the U.S. The XV-PB1 standalone player will offer BD- Live interactivity and Net options, retail at an MSRP of $299, be available in March, and offer AVCHD playback—perhaps from vids you’ve created on your new Everio camcorder; the HTIB (Home Theater in a Box) Blu-ray offering is named the TH-SB100, and offers BD-Live, and a 3.1 “soundbar”-style speaker system up front, with a wireless subwoofer (but do remember the power cord, natch), for an MSRP of $699. No word on whether either Blu-ray system offers onboard support for DTS-HD or Dolby Tru-HD, as Engadget notes.

[Read: JVC XV-PB1 Press Release, JVC TH-SB100 Press Release]

More HTIB (Home Theatre in a Box) Offerings

With a total of four more HTIB on offer, other than the blu-ray-equipped TH-SB100, there’s something for anyone searching at the low end of the home-theater spectrum—three 5.1 channel systems and one 2.1 channel system: As engadget.com relates, “the TH-G31, TH-G41 and TH-G51 are all based around upconverting DVD decks. The TH-G41 and TH-G51 models add a repeating HDMI input and iPod/iPhone connectivity — complete with a display of the iPod/iPhone UI — into the mix. Capping off the tippy-top of the line, the TH-G51 also sports wireless surround speakers. If your fashion sensibilities are even more stringent than wireless surrounds, you might be able to accept the move to the 2.1-channel, so slim it’s wall-mountable NX-T10. Don’t run away from the 2.1-channel spec just yet — the speakers are omnidirectional, so you’ll still get some sense of envelopment.”

[Read: JVC 5.1 HTIBs Press Release, NX-T10 Release]

Car Audio: In-dash Receivers

Get out your calculators, again, or just remember the number of Everio camcorders we tallied a while back subtract one, and you’ll get: seven: 7 new JVC in-dash units. The flagship is probably of the most interest, as it’s fully-featured (in terms of audio only), and MSRPs at only $269—it’ll street for a lot less, believe it. On offer are 4 X 50 Watt (@ 4 ohm impedance) MOSFET amp channels in the KDR-900, along with CD playback, of course, two USB 2.0 ports, parametric EQ, Bluetooth, and a nice touch-functional-looking remote. For full deets on this and the other six, hit the read link!

[Read: JVC Mobile Press Release]

The end of the JVC buffet—for now!