Sony's "hide-and-seek" Bravia TAV-L1 gets pricing and release details

It's coming out a little later than we expected, but Sony has finally announced a solid release window for the Bravia TAV-L1 complete home theater system that we first spotted all the way back in February. As you may recall, this model consists of a 32-inch LCD monitor covered by a motorized panel containing speakers and a slot-loading DVD/SACD player, along with a single HDMI input and two vibration-canceling subwoofers in the base. Knowing full well that consumers love to personalize their gear, Sony will be offering the L1 with optional green, gray, burgundy, orange, or silver speaker grills for $100 apiece starting in September, about a month after the product itself is released. Also on the horizon is a $1,300 system called the RHT-G1000, which features speakers and a receiver built right into a TV stand, allowing users to hook up their own flat panel sets and rear satellites for the full home theater experience. Expect the G1000 to be available sometime in October, while the $4,000 TAV-L1 is scheduled for release next month -- well past the May launch we'd first heard, but also a lot cheaper than the $7,000 we originally reported.

[lolersticks @ Jul 19th 2006 2:39PM]

Ugliest. Television. Ever.

[cyrus @ Jul 19th 2006 2:41PM]

err... no not ugly... actually really nice in the flesh! its been available in harrods sony center for over 1 moth now!!!

[Greg Baz @ Jul 19th 2006 2:51PM]

Wouldnet the name Hide-And-Sleek have been better

[ET @ Jul 19th 2006 3:01PM]

Gimmick. Just get a Westinghouse LCD at a fraction of the cost. The image quality is so much better than any overpriced Sony. Period.

[Perrey Z. @ Jul 19th 2006 3:31PM]

$4,000 for playing hide-and-seek with an ugly 32" Sony BRAVIA? No thanks! I don't want to take the risk of getting burn by the infamous Sony timer which will stop our playtime right after the warranty expires...

[5ftassassin @ Jul 19th 2006 4:02PM]

Et; you do realise that the above pictured isn't availble yet. So unless you have connections that the rest of us don't then I doub't you could tell if this is any better or worse than Westinghouse's current offerings. How ever if you do know where we can get a look at one of these please share it with us!

[cyrus @ Jul 19th 2006 4:41PM]

5ftassassin:
I already said its been on sale in harrods for a month now m8!

[5ftassassin @ Jul 19th 2006 5:13PM]

I guess I should have said any where in America; I don't think I'll have the good fortune of travelling across the pond any time soon.

[uzinna @ Jul 19th 2006 5:38PM]

u can already get these in finland.

[Eli @ Jul 19th 2006 6:03PM]

The country where I quite want to be?

(not because of these)

[Paul @ Jul 19th 2006 6:04PM]

We sell these at work already for £4000. They are not advertised under the Bravia range, but instead 'Esprit'.

Picute quality = OK = Same panel as the S series Sony Bravia's. Has a built in DVD on the top, automatic cover, front is also a speaker. When closed and a CD/SACD inserted it becomes a hifi. Sound quality is fairly good.

Sony say the idea was to go against B&O. People who buy this don't really care about some of the features some people are complaining about.

[TIMMAH! @ Jul 19th 2006 6:27PM]

Okay, so when I don't want to watch TV I've still got this ugly colored lump sitting on the table/floor. Why don't they integrate the popup-TV into something like a cabinet or something instead of a useless sleeve-case?

[Jim @ Jul 19th 2006 6:30PM]

Same as paul really, dont knock this tele till you see it! Granted in the UK market it has nothing on the X series but the Esprit is a completely new product, I personally think the SACD and CD reproduction is amazing! Love it so much chances are going to get one.

Paul you dont work in any of the Essex Sony centres do you?

[cyrus @ Jul 20th 2006 3:58AM]

TIMMAH!:
It's not a useless sleeve case... as Paul said it is a speaker, and the screen doesnt actually move, just the speaker! - sayin that, sony should have made it quicker... its too slow :(

[Kev50027 @ Jul 20th 2006 4:56AM]

I saw some of these in a mall in Portugal. There was a Sony Store and they had a demo model in the middle of the floor. It looks really cool in real life, but it looks kinda odd with the TV hidden. I think it's a great idea, but I don't know if it will sell.

[Paul @ Jul 20th 2006 6:51AM]

Jim - Saddly not!!

It's not a bad idea, but you have to question that for the same price you can get a 40" X series TV (1080p native).

Then again, they are aimed at two different markets.

[Some Guy @ Jul 21st 2006 2:13PM]

I have a crazy Idea. Why not make the damn thing in black, so someone will actually want to purchase it.

[Leopold Porkstacker @ Apr 30th 2007 1:08PM]

So, it "hides" behind a 1970s puke green fascia, how does one get it to hide from the ugly puke green colour???

-he who stacks pork