Sega-Vision

Sega-Vision
Manufacturer: Muntz Manufacturing
Release Date RRP Code {{}} JP 1974? ¥? ? {{}} US 1974? $? ?

The Sega-Vision was a US television set created by Sega Enterprises, Inc. and was the company's first product meant for the home. It was designed by Earl "Madman" Muntz in 1976, a businessman known for wacky television adverts and for coining the phrase "TV" in America. Sega had acquired his company, Muntz Manufacturing, Inc., in June 1976, and is thought to have begun selling these units in late 1976/early 1977.

Hardware

The Sega-Vision is one of the first (if not the first) rear-projection television sets (RPTV) to be released to consumers. While technically the same as the more widespread "direct-view" CRT technology widely used in televisions at the time, the resulting image is projected onto a blank canvas, being enlarged in the process (similar to how cinemas operate with film). This allows the Sega-Vision to be significantly bigger than most TV sets at the time, as this system costs significantly less than producing ever larger CRT displays, however picture clarity is reduced and the system does not operate as well in low light environments.

Sega-Vision sets came in either 44-inch or 50-inch screen varieties, with cabinets standing between five and six feet.

Models

Three models of Sega-Vision were produced:

• Model DCR-530 (MSRP $2395): The flagship model of the Sega-Vision, the television has a 50" diagonal-inch screen and a solid oak roll-top cabinet that covers the screen when not in use. The model comes with a remote control and displays the current channel and time when adjusting volume or switching channels.
• Model C-401 (MSRP $1495): As the budget model, the C-401 has a smaller 44" diagonal-inch screen and lacks the roll-top covering of the DCR-530.
• Model CR-511 (MSRP $1895): An upgraded version of the C-401, the model features a larger 50" diagonal-inch screen and remote control unit.

History

Release

Sega-Vision units started shipping in November 1976, with an "overall distribution effort" commencing at the start of 1977.

Sega used then-Los Angeles Dodgers' first baseman Steve Garvey to promote the television set in TV advertisements. A system is also known to have been a prize in a 1970s edition of The Price Is Right.

Legacy

Sega-Vision televisions were seen as the top-of-the-line at launch, and so were significantly more expensive than the average television of the time. As such, while initially popular with enthusiasts, the sets could not achieve mass market appeal, meaning surviving models are extremely rare. It is not thought any Sega-Visions were sold outside of the United States; the company may not have even managed to develop a country-wide distribution network. Despite this, the television was once officially advertised for sale in Japan by Sega Enterprises.

Earl Muntz left Muntz Manufacturing shortly after it was acquired, and set up a new television firm. However, as Sega had purchased the rights to the "Muntz" name, he was forced to call his new endeavour "Madman Electronics".

Sega left the television market in 1978. To date the Sega-Vision is the only commercial television to be produced by the company, however rear-projection technology was used in some of its arcade games, and continued to be viable for "big" screens until the early 2000s, when LCD monitors became more affordable.

Despite a push from several manufacturers at the time, projection televisions were not a hit with home audiences, as they were expensive, heavy and could not match the sharpness of a "direct-view" CRT display. By the time technology had progressed enough to tackle these issues, superior display technologies had come onto (or were in the process of coming onto) the market.

Promotional material

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  JP flyer

• 

  Playboy

• US commercial

Photo gallery

• 

  Appearance on The Price is Right

Patents

• US Patent