EXCLUSIVE: While the Sony’s, Samsung LG’s and Panasonic’s of this world fight it out, over who has the best premium TV, a small German TV Company has come along to kick all their arses, and they have a premium TV pedigree that boots them all out of play.
The premium end of the flat panel TV market is alive and well with German TV brand Loewe now making inroads into the top end of the Australian LCD TV market with a combination of options including 160G and later this year 250 GB storage devices, Blu ray players and several home theatre attach options.
Described as significantly better than the Bang and Olufsen offering, the range is quickly establishing itself in the market as one of the few premium TV brands on offer.
An extremely popular brand during the era of CRT TV’s, the German brand is now being sold by the Audio Product Group via more than 30 specialist dealers and David Jones.
Already Europe’s leading premium manufacturer of LCD TV’s, Loewe has been a driving force in TV innovation and minimalistic design for over 80 years however, they were very slow in launching their new flat panel range in Australia after a falling out with long timer distributor International Dynamics.
The new range is priced from 7,900 to over $11,000.
According to APG Managing director Ken Dwyer the brand is proving popular because “it is European, stylish and presents consumers with several entertainment options”.
“Currently, we are investing extensively in in-store merchandising and marketing along with the training of retail staff. We believe that it is important because we are dealing with a premium brand that has been around a long time, has a pedigree and is known”.
According to several retailers now stocking the product, the key selling point is that the range is custom designed to meet specific entertainment needs from thin and energy efficient to stylish with the new Loewe Individual which comes in a wide range of options and colours.
Leading European web site Trusted Reviews said of the range recently, “Loewe’s unique aesthetic flare and penchant for providing everything but the kitchen sink on the features front means that any TV from the German company has a tendency to make the most fancy of its rivals look positively ordinary by comparison. So when Loewe itself decides to call one of its TVs ‘Individual’, you can’t help but expect something really special”.
And “as soon as you get the 32in LCD Individual S 32 out of its box, you sense that special is exactly what you’re going to get. For it is quite simply one of the most uniquely attractive TVs ever. And that’s even before you set about customising it.”
They say that the heart of its design appeal comes from the boldness of its core colour contrasts, as the metallic sheen of the top and bottom edges of the fascia is dramatically offset by the deep black of the left and right sides. The cunning little gap between the screen and the speaker section underneath is cool as you like too.
Also on offer in Australia is the Loewe Connect 37in LCD TV, which is no ordinary TV. It’s a Full HD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080p, and it’ll show 24 frames per second (24fps) which leaves a lot of major brands behind.
There is also an option of a 250GB drive built-in (adding $1,000 to the listed price and capable of recording HD broadcasts). One can also shows photos and home videos via a USB input.
Other sizes in the Connect range include 42″ 22,” 26″ and 32″.
A big difference between many of the big brands and the Loewe offering is the built-in network media player. Connect this set – wired or wirelessly – to a home network, and it can access photos, music files and video from your computer or any other networked source. So, what we have here is not just a TV, but a complete home-entertainment hub.
Most recently however, Loewe added to this with the launch of their most environmentally friendly TV to date, the new Art SL, with impressive eco credentials.
For example, automatic light dimming is activated by allowing low energy consumption in the home, using 20% less electricity than the premium mode.
A low standby value of 0.7 watts and an integrated power switch, means that the device can be completely disconnected from the mains power supply, thus reducing standby consumption to 0.
In Europe recently, Loewe were presented with a Focus Green Light award, for the brand’s low energy and material consumption, recycling options and reduced usage of raw materials and resources.
The newly Art SL is Loewe’s slimmest TV to date measuring only 89.9mm in width and is compatible with all Loewe sound systems. In addition to its energy saving benefits it also has the highest European certification of HDTV, with Full-HD LCD slim line panels.
An integrated HDTV tuner allows you to receive all digital formats and the 2 x 40w sound qualities make this television perform and function above and beyond its competitors.
There is a manual swivel stand option and rear cable cover for perfectly clean lines and the range is available in two colour and size options: Chrome Silver or High Gloss Black, and 42 and 47 inch screen sizes.
According to Ken Dwyer “When you compare what Loewe have on offer in not only in the quality of their products but the design and extensive range of quality options we can really say that Australia now has a premium TV brand”.
