Dimensia was RCA's brand name for their high-end models of television systems and their components (tuner, VCR, CD player, etc.) produced from 1984 to 1989, with variations continuing into the early 1990s, superseded by the ProScan model line. After RCA was acquired by General Electric in 1986, GE sold the RCA consumer electronics line to Thomson SA which continued the Dimensia line. They are significant for their wide array of advanced features and for being the first television receiver systems to feature a built in computer, somewhat of an early incarnation of a smart TV, but without internet access (see Technological convergence). In 1985, RCA released the Digital Command Component System, a fully integrated audio system that permitted the full functionality of Dimensia audio components without a Dimensia monitor. The name "Dimensia" actually dates back to the early 1970s when RCA used the term for an enhanced spatial stereo effect which they called "Dimensia IV".[1] The tagline for the Dimensia was The Next Dimension in Sight and Sound.
Features
The RCA Dimensia systems had a wide array of high-end features that were novel for its time and are still not common anywhere.
Computer
The main unique feature of the Dimensia system was the MRT 003, a 32-kilobyte built-in computer module which allowed the monitor to communicate with all Dimensia components and the remote functions.[2] All components were connected via the control bus found on the I/O panel on the back of the TV. The control bus was a unique RCA connector which was colored black. All Dimensia branded components had this control jack and they all interconnected by using RCA plugs that could piggy-back, resulting in a daisy chain which simplified wiring. This was known as the SystemLink, a communication system that had 16 kilobytes of computer memory (after the discontinuation of the Dimensia product line, RCA reused the SystemLink term for their universal remotes).[3]
Input/Output
One of the main features of the Dimensia's was the large
Variations
There are different models of the Dimensia, and there were two "generations" of the console and full Dimensia systems.
Basic/console
This variation of the Dimensia featured just the TV monitor mounted in a heavy wood grain veneer with a large input/output panel. It was on a swivel mount. It was not as commercial as the monitor for the full component-based Dimensia system; however, it was still considered high-end and had the control bus. In other words, the console Dimensia system was intended to be more stand-alone television set than the full Dimensia system. The second generation console version of the Dimensia had the speakers located on the sides rather than underneath the screen (e.g., Model GPR2750P). It had three coaxial cable/antenna posts for separate RF inputs and one output.
Audio: Since the console Dimensia monitor was intended to stand alone (the full system had a 100 or 200 watt amplifier and 3-way tower speakers), but was still a high-end system, it featured a more complete built-in audio system than most monitors of the time. It had both woofers and tweeters in the TV cabinet, whereas almost all standard CRT television sets featured just one (mono) or two (stereo) low fidelity mid-range speaker drivers. It also had selectable external speaker connectors to be powered by the internal amp.
Commercial
Sound system
The initial 1984 Dimensia system came with one of several three-way stereo loudspeaker systems. The first one was the SPK375 which were made to go on optional speaker stands. They were rated at 60 watts RMS and 120 watts maximum and were in a 36-pound acoustic suspension enclosure. These were initially meant to be used with the 100 watt MSA-100 amplifier; then later in 1985 the 200 watt MSA-200 amplifier was released which was compatible with the MGE-160 graphic equalizer.[9] The impedance of the SPK-375 was six ohms and their sensitivity was 91 dB/watt/meter.[10] The frequency response of the speakers built into the TV chassis was 50-15000 Hertz, a standard range for mid-range audio components; the external speakers and amplifiers increased this range to 35-20000 Hertz, a high fidelity range.
The second-generation Dimensia audio components were also made for the Digital Command Component System.
Digital command component system
In 1985, RCA released a fully integrated audio system known as the "RCA Audio System" that used the MSR-140 stereo receiver as its center for control over all the components. This allowed all Dimensia audio components to be controlled and fully functional without the need of a Dimensia television set.
Gallery
Various images of a 1987 console model GPR2740T
See also
- Capacitance Electronic Disc, another one of RCA's innovations
External links
- RCA Dimensia Facebook page
- Popular Science Review
References
- Compacts Spark RCA Push; To Mfr. 8-Tracks Domestically Billboard, December 23, 1972, retrieved April 29, 2015^
- Tom Howe. DIMENSIA – The Next Dimension in Sight and Sound cedmagic.com, retrieved August 6, 2015^
- Yahoo – login flickr.com, retrieved August 6, 2015