Dimensia was RCA's model name for their high-end series of television systems and their components (Tuner, VCR, CD Player, etc.) produced from 1984 to the early 1990's, superseded by the ProScan model line.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. The tagline for the Dimensia was The Next Dimension in Sight and Sound.
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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, the built in computer module which allowed the monitor to communicate with all Dimensia components and the remote functions. All components were connected via the control bus found on the I/O panel on the back of the TV.
Input/Output
One of the main features of the Dimensia's was the large input/output panel on the back. This included several RCA composite video terminals as well as multiple unbalanced and balanced RF antenna/cable inputs. This was so all of the components made to go with the Dimensia system could be easily connected at once, each with their own unique channel. The components were also connected to the control bus data link via piggy-back style RCA connectors. All Dimensia-Intelligent components could interact with the monitor's built-in computer. The console Dimensia I/O panel shown to the right also has a SCART interface, an early multiport A/V interface which is popular in Europe.
Universal Remote
See also: Digital Command Center
The Dimensia system came with a very large and advanced universal remote, called Dimensia Intelligent Audio Video or Dimensia Digital Control, variations of the Digital Command Center. The capabilities of this remote were far more advanced than many (perhaps any) other remotes at that time. For example, with other universal remotes you can control everything separately by controlling one component at a time; one command at a time. With the dimensia remote, just pushing the VCR button will turn on the VCR, turn on the monitor and then play the tape in the VCR, assuming there is one.
The Dimensia remote was not programmable like most universal remotes today. It was only fully compatible with Dimensia components. These components were referred to as Dimensia Intelligent, hence the name, Dimensia Intelligent Audio Video.
Variations
There are different models of the Dimensia.
Basic/Console
This variation of the RCA Dimensia system featured just the TV mounted in a heavy wood grain veneer with a large input/output panel. It was on a swivel mount. It was not as integrated as the full Dimensia system; however, it was still high-end. In other words, the console Dimensia system was intended to be more stand-alone TV set than the full dimensia system.
Audio: Since the basic Dimensia 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 an abnormally good built-in audio system. It was not remarkable, but it had both woofers and tweeters in the TV cabinet, whereas almost all standard television sets feature just one (mono) or two (stereo) low fidelity midrange drivers. It also had amplified external speaker connectors.
Commercial
The commercial models featured a 20-foot long grounded power cord and BNC high-end commercial coaxial inputs. These models were around before the Dimensia system and were called the RCA Lyceum TV. These units were often used in educational facilities or other institutions and their chassis were identical to that of the Colortrak 2000. These were the models to which the designation "Lyceum TV" was primarily given, and they had BNC inputs.
Full Dimensia System
Retailed at $5000 USD, it came with all the matching Dimensia-intelligent components, including the VCR, CED player (cancelled just before release, actually), amplifier, equalizer, speakers, tuner, cassette recorder, CD player and turntable. This was the most remarkable system, as all the components were compatible with the TV's computer and almost any operation could be executed with just the push of a button on the Digital Command Center.
Gallery
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 EIA interface SCART connector on a 1987 RCA Dimensia |
See also
- Lyceum TV
- Colortrak 2000
- RCA Colortrak
- Capacitance Electronic Disc, another one of RCA's innovations
References
External links
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