Flat Screen Review

Samsung HL-S6188W DLP HDTV

2007-03-07T13:44:00.000-08:00

In a rather interesting reversal of fortune, the Samsung and the Sony swapped positions compared with their rankings in last year’s RPTV Face Off. This was really due to one thing: defeatable DNIe.

Samsung’s “picture-enhancement” circuitry proved to be last year’s ultimate polarizing factor. Some of our judges liked it; most of them didn’t. Either way, it certainly didn’t make the image look natural. The problem was that you couldn’t disable the DNIe. This year’s model had no such affliction. In fact, in Movie mode, you can’t even enable the DNIe. Without this handicap, the display’s strengths got to shine through.

The Samsung’s most noticeable strength, interestingly, is its color. While every other display in this Face Off (in fact, most displays in general) had oversaturated color points, the HL-S6188W had nearly perfect color points. The result on the screen is an image that looks inherently realistic. This seemed to be the aspect of its performance that pushed it to the top of everyone’s rankings. In fact, every judge commented on the display’s natural look and realistic colors. As it won out over other TVs that had better contrast ratios and much better black levels, the importance of accurate color points seems to be clear.

The Samsung’s processing was very good with both 480i and 1080i material. There were almost no noticeable jagged edges on the Silicon Optix DVD’s flag scene. The Samsung picked up the 3:2 sequence quickly with Gladiator but not at all with the synthetic Silicon Optix test. Like most of the TVs, it couldn’t pick it up at all with 1080i, either. The scaling was pretty good, and most of the judges gave it compliments on its level of detail. The same was true with noise, as in there wasn’t a lot of it.

This set wasn’t without its problems, and one stands out over the others. This TV is way too bright. Don’t dismiss this, as it is a real issue. If you plan to watch this TV in a dark room, it will be extremely fatiguing. If, for example, a night scene transitions to a day scene, you will probably wince and squint your eyes. It’s that bright. With no way to adjust the light output in the user menu, I question the usability of this TV at night, as did several of the judges. It’s too bright. Several other TVs in this Face Off have an adjustable iris to drop the light output when desired. This TV needs a usermenu iris adjustment more than any display we’ve reviewed. Sure, everyone loves a bright display, but this one has gone over the edge. An adjustable iris would also address this TV’s other shortcoming, mediocre blacks.

Yet, the Samsung still won, despite its eye-watering light output. The scaling and deinterlacing (except for 1080i) are good. The colors are nearly perfect, and it tracks D6500 quite well. The contrast ratio is good, although the black level is merely OK. It’s one of the most realistic and natural RPTVs we’ve seen through here, and it’s our clear winner. Just don’t forget to bring some sunglasses.

[via:hometheatremag]

JVC HD-61FN97 D-ILA HDTV

2007-03-04T13:31:00.000-08:00

Narrowly squeaking past the Toshiba to secure the first-runnerup spot, the JVC was this year’s polarizing choice. It had one firstplace vote, two for second place, and a fourth- and a fifth-place vote, as well. It all depended on what each reviewer valued—or was bothered by—the most.

Older JVC RPTVs were known for having great processing—as well as pretty terrible black levels. Thankfully, this year’s models have an iris. You can adjust the iris for blistering light output, almost as much as the Samsung’s—or, even better, for the second best black level in the Face Off. All the while, the contrast ratio stays high, usually in the 5,000:1-to-6,000:1 range. This is an excellent implementation of an iris, allowing the JVC to have an extremely wide range of light-output options.

Color wasn’t the JVC’s strong suit. The Sony set was less accurate, but, interestingly, because all of the Sony’s colors were off uniformly, it wasn’t as objectionable. The JVC,on the other hand, had a very oversaturated green, while blue and red were less so. Because of this imbalance, several judges commented that, even though it didn’t seem as oversaturated, it seemed more off.

The remote, like all recent JVC remotes, has a lot of tiny, identical buttons. It’s hard to navigate, but at least it’s backlit. The menus, too, are the same as those found on previous models and really don’t complement this TV’s performance, price, or decade, for that matter. Oh, well; with any luck, you won’t have to use the menus often. The Theater Pro button on the remote puts the TV in a movie mode that drops the iris and color temperature down to theater-type levels.

Without the iris, there is no doubt that this TV wouldn’t have ranked this highly. ith the competition so strong, this addition was a smart move for JVC. The excellent contrast ratio, black level, and processing make for a strong display. The color accuracy isn’t great, but it’s not as bad as that of some. Overall, JVC did a lot of things right, and the HD-61FN97 is a very highly performing runner-up.

[via:hometheatremag]

Toshiba 62MX196 DLP HDTV

2007-03-02T13:10:00.000-08:00

In last year’s RPTV Face Off, the Toshiba and JVC TVs tied for second place. This year, the Toshiba missed out on that same tie by only one point. Other TVs in this Face Off excelled strongly in certain categories and not in others. The Toshiba, on the other hand, did well in most categories, except for one, that is.

The comments for the Toshiba generally remarked on its balance. The color accuracy, while not as good as some of the other displays’, was better than average. The Toshiba’s overall contrast ratio was the second lowest, but its ANSI contrast ratio was the second highest. The amount of detail was better than some but not as good as others. And there didn’t seem to be too much noise in the image with any of the sources we demoed.

Processing was fairly average. The 62MX196 picked up the 3:2 sequence with 480i on both the Gladiator clip and the Silicon Optix disc. The waving flag from Silicon Optix had some jagged edges,but it wasn’t too bad. While the 62MX196 deinterlaced 1080i/30 correctly, it wasn’t able to pick up the 3:2 sequence (like most of the displays here). As you’ll see in a moment, this was more of a pressing issue here.

While the value of this TV may seem high, you’ll need to add $300 to its price for a good calibration. Out of the box, the 62MX196 is wickedly cool, like every other Toshiba display we’ve reviewed recently. I understand why a manufacturer would want their TVs to be set to the coolest color temperature out of the box, but why not at least give us enthusiasts the ability to drop to normal levels if we want?

This is the only TV in this year’s Face Off that doesn’t accept 1080p on any input. Last year, such ability was a rarity, but now it is commonplace. This exclusion is notable and disappointing. Other TVs in Toshiba’s line accept 1080p, but not the 1080p RPTVs. Now that we have a real 1080p/60 source (PlayStation 3), this lack sullies an otherwise decent TV. Furthermore, the 62MX196 can’t pick up and process the 3:2 sequence from 1080i correctly.

So, on a performance level, the 62MX196 does a lot of things well but doesn’t excel in any one area. With the lack of a 1080p input, it wasn’t able to move any higher.

[via:hometheatremag]

Sony KDS-R60XBR2 SXRD HDTV

2007-02-28T10:40:00.000-08:00

At this point, you are surely asking yourself, didn’t this TV’s predecessor win this competition last year? Well, yes, it did. What a difference a year makes.

It isn’t that this XBR2 is worse than the XBR1. In fact, in most ways, it is better. It’s just that, in the intervening year, the competition has gotten that much stronger, while this Sony is, well, very similar to last year’s. In reality, the performance of this display, the two runners-up, and the winner are all very close. Each display does some things well and other things not so well.

Obviously, contrast ratio and black level are two of the things that the KDS-R60XBR2 does well. At 14,544:1, its contrast ratio is more than double that of the next closest competitor. This is thanks, in part, to the fact that the Sony has the most active auto iris. This handy device trac ks the incoming video signal and adjusts the builtin iris accordingly. So, with dark scenes, the iris closes up and makes the whole image darker. With bright scenes, it opens and makes the whole scene brighter. As you can imagine, this makes for some rather inflated contrast-ratio measurements. Even so, when you set the iris to stay at one setting, the contrast ratio is still in the ,000:1-to-6,000:1 range, which makes the Sony comparable to the JVC and the Samsung.

The Sony’s processing was pretty middle-of-the-road. It icked up the 3:2 sequence with the Gladiator clip but not with the Silicon Optix discs (neither 480i nor 1080i). The video processing was OK; the waving-flag scene from the same discs had only slightly jaggededges .

Last year, due to the other aspects of the XBR1’s performance, everyone was able to overlook its oversaturated colors. This year, however, the Sony wasn’t so lucky. With other TVs offering a similar onscreen contrast ratio, better processing, and more accurate color points, the Sony dropped down in the rankings. The inclusion of 1080p inputs and a little better performance make this TV a little better than last year’s model, but, with everyone gunning for you, you can’t make do with baby steps.

[via:hometheatremag]

Mitsubishi WD-65731 DLP HDTV

2007-02-26T10:07:00.000-08:00

Much like the Olevia, there was one major thing and one slightly less major thing that conspired to drop the WD-65731 down in the rankings. These were black level and edge enhancement.

At 0.127 foot-lamberts, the Mitsubishi’s black level was more than 3.5 times as high as the second worst one. Not only is this a lot higher than the others in this test, but it is significantly higher than most of the other displays we’ve reviewed lately (even LCD flat panels). Unfortunately, the WD-65731 didn’t have a high enough light output to offset the high black level. Most RPTVs have terrible ANSI contrast ratios due to the amount of reflections that happen inside the cabinet (among other things). Mitsubishi had the best ANSI contrast in last year’s Face Off. This year’s model is slightly lower than that, but two other sets (the Toshiba and the Samsung) both made large strides in increasing their ANSI compared with last year’s models.

The other main negative is disappointing on several levels. More than the others, the WD-65731 had noticeable and non-defeatable edge enhancement. At first lance, this makes the Mitsubishi look detailed. On closer inspection, however, you can see thin white halos running along all of the edges. Displays use edge enhancement typically when, for some reason, they don’t have the resolution to look detailed on their own. Ironically (and sadly), the WD-65731 has that detail. It was one of only three displays (and the only DLP) that passed the onepixel-on/onepixel-off test both horizontally and vertically. So, the resolution is there, but the edge enhancement covers it up.

The Mitsubishi’s 3:2 pickup with 480i was about average, and, like most of the other TVs, the Mitsubishi didn’t pick it up with 1080i. Its video deinterlacing with 480i resulted in some jagged edges on the flag, but its 1080i deinterlacing was fine.

The color points, while not as accurate as the Samsung’s, were more accurate than those of all of the other sets here. The new remote is smaller and easier to use than the old one. It’s pretty basic, but the important bits are backlit. Decrease the black level and the edge enhancement, and you’d have an OK TV.

[via:hometheatremag]

Olevia 565H LCOS HDTV

2007-02-24T09:39:00.000-08:00

Olevia, a sub-brand of Syntax-Brillian, is a relative newcomer to the TV world. While most companies are content to race to zero on the low end of the market, Syntax-Brillian decided to step in and fight with the big dogs. This, and the fact that they proudly use high-end scalers in most of their displays, made them a no-brainer for this Face Off.

The 565H had a lot going for it, at first. There were multitudes of inputs, and, like only one other TV in the Face Off, the 565H accepts 1080p over all of the HD inputs including component). The remote is by far the most attractive of the bunch, and it’s backlit. It doesn’t have direct input access, but the source button instead pulls up a list of inputs to select from. Few of the judges were enamored of the TV’s aesthetics, and Adrienne commented that the front-panel controls were too obvious.

Like only one other TV in the Face Off (the JVC), the 565H correctly deinterlaces 1080i/30 and correctly detects the 3:2 sequence in 1080i material. This is no doubt due to the Pixelworks DNX chip. With 480i material, the Olevia also picked up the 3:2 sequence quickly, both with synthetic tests and real video material. With 480i sourced from video (like the waving flag from the Silicon Optix test DVD), the Olevia showed almost no jagged edges.

Across every selection, this TV was noticeably softer than the others. As it was soft with both SD and HD, it’s doubtful that it’s a scaling issue. The measurements backup this theory. Using our Leader LT-446 test generator, we only measured 990 lines of resolution with 1080i material. Using an advance copy of the Silicon Optix test HD DVD, the 565H could just barely resolve a one-pixel-on/one-pixel-off pattern vertically and not at all horizontally (as was the case with two other displays here). One pixel on/one pixel off is a portion of a larger pattern. This portion consists of thin alternating white and black lines that are one pixel wide, and it tests the absolute limit of a TV’s resolution.

Without the softness issue, the 565H probably would have moved up a few slots. After all, it seemed to decode images very well, and its contrast ratio and black level weren’t bad. (The average here was better than normal.) When we do this again next year, there will hopefully be a new Olevia model that keeps what this one does right and finds some of that lost detail. That would be very interesting.

[via:hometheatermag]

Pioneer PDP-70HD - Plasma Review

2007-01-24T07:06:00.000-08:00

The PDP-70HD series consists of three plasma TVs: the 42-inch PDP-4270HD, the 50-inch PDP-5070HD, and the 60-inch PDP-6070HD. The two larger sets share the same native resolution of 1,365x768, while the smaller PDP-4270HD has a native resolution of 1,024x768. While all the sets are considered true HDTVs, only the two larger sets can display every detail of 720p material. We've completed a full review of the PDP-5070HD, which performed excellently.

Since we haven't reviewed either the PDP-4270HD or the PDP-6070HD, we can't comment on their individual performance, but we believe the performance of the PDP-5070HD is a good indicator. In terms of connectivity, all three sets share similar features, with two HDMI inputs, three component-video inputs (two rear, one side), and an analog VGA-style PC input. All three sets also feature a built-in HDTV tuner and a CableCard slot, so you can receive both over-the-air HDTV and digital cable without an external set-top box.

[source:cnet.com]

Samsung HP-S5053

2006-08-09T00:24:00.000-07:00

Samsung has its fingers in all kinds of TV technology pies, and although it's better known as a purveyor of DLP- and LCD-based HDTVs, the company still sells a tremendous number of plasmas. The HP-S5053 is the company's entry-level 50-inch flat-panel plasma, and if recent trends are any indication, it may prove just as popular--if not more so--than its 42-inch brother, the Samsung HP-S4253. This 50-inch plasma is priced to compete with models such as the Panasonic TH-50PX60U, costs a few hundred bucks more than sets such as the LG 50PC3D and significantly more than the Vizio P50HDM, putting it into somewhat of a middle ground price-wise.

The Samsung HP-S5053's look can definitely turn heads when turned off, and its comprehensive collection of inputs will appeal to folks with lots of gear, but its image quality, despite delivering excellent black levels, isn't quite up to the state of the plasma art. That said, if you tend to watch your movies with the lights on or you sit far enough back to overlook a few artifacts, you'll probably have few complaints.

We liked many aspects of the Samsung HP-S5053's image quality, including its excellent black levels and accurate color decoding, but its tendency to introduce too much noise and false contouring into many scenes was difficult to overlook.

One of the most impressive characteristics of the HP-S5053's picture is the depth of black it can achieve. We saw evidence of this when watching The Bourne Supremacy HD-DVD from our Toshiba HA-A1. When Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) walks out onto his Goa rooftop at night, the shadows in the distance, the night sky, and the letterbox bars all looked as inky as we've seen on any plasma, and deeper than on any other kind of non-CRT-based television we've reviewed in a long time.

These artifacts are species of false contouring that also plagued Samsung's 42-inch model, and they were difficult to escape in scenes such as this. As with the 42-inch model, when we reduced the brightness control to lower the amount of noise, we started losing detail in shadows. Flat fields of near darkness, such as the wide shot of Bourne's house in the early dawn, also brought out crawling greenish motes of noise. As with all similar artifacts, the noise and false contouring became less visible when we moved farther back than our normal 8-foot seating distance; at 10 feet, for example, the motes were much more difficult to discern.

With test patterns, we noticed that gray areas fluctuated significantly from one step of brightness to another. We did calibrate the grayscale to bring it a bit closer overall to the standard, but that had little effect on the Samsung's comparatively poor grayscale tracking.

Details were fine for a plasma of this resolution, and when Marie looks through Bourne's papers and maps, we could easily read the writing and see the tiny type. As usual we recommend you feed this plasma the high-def resolution that's closest to its 1,366x768 native resolution: 720p. 1080i sources looked slightly softer, although the difference was again quite subtle. By the same token, it likes HDMI better than component-video, which evinced high-frequency interference in the most-detailed areas of test patterns, although yet again, it was difficult to spot in normal program material. As a side note, like a few HDTVs out there, the HP-S5063 can't handle 480i sources via its HDMI input, but that's not a big issue since HDMI is usually reserved for higher resolutions anyway. We also noted in the review of the 42-inch HP-S4253 that it was impossible to completely eliminate edge enhancement, but its 50-inch brother didn't suffer the same issue.

Standard-def performance was a bit problematic according to our test patterns, and in particular, composite-video appeared way below average, with strange vibrations and instabilities in lines that should be stationary. We recommend you use a progressive-scan or upconverting DVD player with this set to avoid this kind of instability. Details via component, S-Video, and composite video appeared softer than they should have, although the set did do a very good job of smoothing jagged lines and engaging 2:3 pull-down detection quickly. We looked at some noisy standard-def video and found that the HP-S5053 did an average job of quelling the snowy-looking motes. Unfortunately, engaging its noise-reduction circuit had very little effect for reducing the noise from any source.

Finally, we tried to assess Samsung's claim that the HP-S5053's glass panel reflects less room light than other plasmas, but it was difficult to do so without other plasmas onhand. Anecdotally, Samsung's screen did seem to reduce glare a little, although in our testing room we still noticed overhead lighting, for example, reflecting off its surface. Of course, glare is an issue with all plasmas and direct-view CRTs but doesn't plague flat-panel LCDs or microdisplays.

[via:cnet]

Samsung LN-R3228W - LCD TV

2006-07-01T02:33:00.000-07:00

Samsung issued a press release recently claiming to have sold 1 million 8-series models of LCD TVs, and it's not hard to see why these sets are so popular. Not only are they priced more aggressively than some name-brand LCD TVs, they look darn snazzy to boot. True, Samsung has left out such features as an HDTV tuner and a CableCard slot, but plenty of buyers see these options as unnecessary extras. They are available on some similarly-priced sets, however, like the Sharp LC-32D4U.

The first thing you'll notice about the Samsung 32-inch LN-R3228W is its distinctive all-black coloring. Unlike Sharp, which also has an extensive lineup of LCDs with a range of colors--but mostly silver--Samsung's LCDs are mostly two-tone silver and black. The LN-R3228W stands out with its black speakers and pedestal, although it's otherwise identical to the LN-R328W. The screen is edged with slick glossy black plastic, much like the Sharp LC-32D4U, but the Samsung's speakers are mounted on the bottom and shaped in a wide v formation. As a result, the LN-R3228W is narrower than many LCDs, measuring 31.4 by 25.6 by 9.8 inches. Including the stand, it weighs 39 pounds.

We've said it before and we'll say it again: Samsung's remote is in dire need of an update. The bland gray wand included with the LN-R3228W is easy enough to use, but it lacks a backlight and just doesn't fit with the slick style of the TV itself. We're also annoyed that the important Aspect button hides behind a sliding door and that the remote can't control other types of devices. We like the all-inclusive layout of the LN-R3228W's internal menu system, which covers input selection and has a friendly feel. Speaking of friendly, a strange chime sounds when you start up the TV; happily, you can silence it.

The Samsung LN-R3228W has all the standard TV features covered but, as noted, lacks an ATSC tuner as well as a CableCard slot. To watch high-def on this set, you'll need to connect an external HD receiver, such as a cable or satellite box--not a major issue since most people have cable or satellite anyway. Its features include a picture-in-picture mode, an option to freeze the image, and Samsung's Anynet function to control other Anynet-equipped Samsung gear. We also appreciated that all three aspect-ratio selections, including an adjustable zoom, are available with both HD and standard-def sources.

Connectivity isn't quite as good as that of some competing 32-inch panels, such as Dell's W3201C, but at least it includes a VGA-style computer input (1,360x768 maximum resolution). There's also an HDMI connection--one fewer than we'd like to see--as well as a pair of component-video inputs and two A/V inputs, one of them with S-Video. We would also like to see side-panel inputs on a set in this price range. One nice touch: The LN-R3228W automatically deactivates unconnected jacks, speeding the process of cycling through all the inputs.

Overall, the Samsung LN-R3228W is a decent if not exceptional performer that offers more features than some budget panels but not as many as step-up models such as the Sharp LC-32D4U -- which costs about the same. Its principal appeal is its slick, compact shape and all-black styling. If you're looking in this size range and want an LCD with an attractive exterior, the Samsung LN-R3228W certainly qualifies. For picture quality and features, however, there are better choices available.

[via: cnet]

Philips 42PF9630A - LCD TV

2006-06-30T08:17:00.000-07:00

The tremendous popularity of flat-panel HDTVs shows no signs of slowing down, and it doesn't seem to matter whether they're plasmas or LCDs, as long as they're flat. Philips's 2005 lineup includes both technologies and doesn't do much to differentiate between them; the company's flagship 42-inch flat-panel LCD, model 42PF9830A, is a perfect example of plasma/LCD conflation. When turned off, it hauntingly resembles a similarly named 42-inch Philips plasma, the 42PF9630A, at least until you compare the price tags--the LCD is quite a bit more expensive. We've always preferred the best plasmas to the best LCDs for home-theater image quality, but HDTVs such as the 42PF9830A narrow the gap considerably. It has a higher resolution than any 42-inch plasma, and its other image-quality characteristics are also improved, although it lacks the crucial ability to provide custom picture settings for more than one source. That complaint aside, the Philips 42PF9830A is one of the best-performing LCDs we've reviewed.

As we mentioned at the outset, the 42-inch Philips 42PF9830A LCD surpasses the native resolution of its plasma competitors--it has 1,366x768 pixels, while 42-inch plasmas currently max out at 1,024x768. The result is that it provides somewhat more detail with HD and computer sources, although the difference is slight. All sources, including HDTV, DVD, standard TV, and computers are scaled to fit the pixels.

As is typical with all HDTVs, the Philips 42PF9830A has some useful features and a few that have detrimental effects on picture quality. It also suffers from one glaring omission: unlike just about every other HDTV on the market, the 42PF9830A lacks independent memory per input. This is very limiting in terms of calibrating and optimizing picture quality for a variety of video sources and is a problem that virtually every other manufacturer in the industry has fixed. There is no excuse for it, and as a result, we docked it a full point in Features.

The Philips 42PF9830A includes one unique feature not found on any other brand of TV: Ambilight, which employs a pair of rear-mounted fluorescent tubes to illuminate the wall behind the panel. You can control the color and intensity of the backlights, choose from a number of presets, and set the lights to a constant color or have them imitate the colors on the screen, turning green during a wide shot of the football field and blue during a shot of the blimp in the sky, for example. As Philips's most-expensive LCD TV this year, the 42PF9830A boasts Ambilight 2, which allows the colored lights on either side of the rear of the panel to react independently of one another. For example, if the picture is of Big Bird standing next to a firetruck, the one backlight will glow yellow and the other red.

While some viewers might enjoy the splash of colored light, we recommend leaving Ambilight turned off for critical viewing. That's because the colored backlight skews your perception of the true color emanating from the screen, an effect that's detrimental to accurate color reproduction from the video source. Another problem is that, with some settings, the intensity of the light changes with the content of the picture, which we found distracting. If the Movie setting, which looked to be the most neutral of all the Ambilight's colors, were set to a neutral 6,500K gray--or were at least close--Ambilight would be a very useful feature for reducing reduce eyestrain in a dark room. Unfortunately, the Movie setting measured between 2,500K and 3,500K, which is way too red.

Otherwise, the Philips's feature set befits a high-end HDTV. The TV includes an ASTC tuner and is Digital Cable Ready, and while it lacks the TV Guide EPG found on many other HDTVs, that's no big loss in our book since TV Guide can be unreliable with digital cable systems. Other conveniences include picture-in-picture with both split-screen and inset modes, numerous sound settings, and six aspect-ratio selections for standard-def sources. Finally, Philips includes a USB input and a memory card slot that accepts SD, CompactFlash, SmartMedia, and Memory Stick media. Using a card or a USB keychain drive, you can listen to MP3 audio and view digital photos via the TV.

Connection options on the Philips 42PF9830A are generous. Two HDMI inputs head up the digital connectivity, and while the panel lacks a dedicated PC input, you can connect a PC to either HDMI port at as much as 1,280x768 resolution. There are also two component-video inputs, one of which can be configured for RGBHV but overrides one of the A/V inputs with S-Video, and another that's independent but paired with only a coaxial digital audio input--as well as a second set of A/V inputs with S-Video. A CableCard slot is also on board. A coaxial digital audio output, a set of monitor A/V outputs with composite video only, and an RF input round out the rear jack panel. In addition, a headphone jack and a set of A/V inputs with S-Video are all located behind the left speaker on the side of the panel.

[via: cnet]

Sharp LC-32D4U - LCD TV

2006-06-29T23:10:00.000-07:00

Sharp essentially dominated the market in the early days of LCD TVs. Lately, though, it's found some serious competition both from up-and-coming brands such as Syntax and Westinghouse, which have created a vicious price war, and from other established brands such as Sony, which have pushed hard with ever-more-elaborate marketing campaigns. Sharp still has more LCD models than anybody else, however, and the models we've reviewed have consistently outperformed most other flat-panel LCDs. While Sharp's 32-inch LC-32D4U does have some image-quality issues, it's still among the better-performing LCDs on the market. For people want a better picture, as well as a good selection of cutting-edge features, the Sharp LC-32D4U is among the best choices on the market -- as long as you don't need to connect a PC.

With a native resolution of 1,366x768, the same as most LCD TVs in this size range, the Sharp LC-32D4U has more than enough pixels to display full 720p HDTV. All incoming signals, including HDTV, standard TV, and DVD, are scaled to fit the available pixels.

A built-in ATSC tuner serves up over-the-air digital and HDTV, while the QAM tuner and the CableCard slot can serve up digital and HD cable without the need for an external box--especially useful if you want to install the TV on its own, away from an entertainment center. Since the Sharp lacks a TV Guide or other EPG, you'll lose the programming info that comes along with a cable or satellite box. Of course if that's important to you, you can always add an external box from your favorite provider.

Convenience features are few. When was the last time you've seen an HDTV without picture-in-picture? One cool extra is Freeze, which captures the onscreen image and holds it until you press the Freeze button a second time--great for writing down the phone number to buy that oh-so-unique pearl necklace on QVC. Unfortunately, this feature is not available when using the HDMI input. The four aspect-ratio options available for standard-def sources include Side Bar, which properly displays 4:3 material, and Smart Stretch, which stretches sides more than the center so that 4:3 sources fill the screen. Impressively, four modes are also available for HD sources, including Zoom and Dot by Dot, which matches the incoming source pixel by pixel. Other features include horizontal and vertical positioning, picture flip, and input labeling.

The Sharp LC-32D4U's connectivity left us wanting more. There's one HDMI input, and although most other LCDs are also equipped with just one, some, such as Dell's W3201C, have a second. Most 32-inch LCDs do have a PC input, however, while the LC-32D4U does not. That's a major omission in our book.

We were pleased to see two component-video inputs; the slots can also accept composite video. A third composite/S-Video input is on tap, as well as one CableCard slot and three RF inputs for cable and antenna tuners. There's also an RS-232C terminal for integration with a home-theater control system. Outputs include one S-Video, one composite, one stereo RCA pair, and one optical digital audio out.

[via cnet]

Sony KDL-V40XBR1 - LCD TV

2006-06-28T08:11:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year, Sony changed the name of its high-end LCD TVs from Wega to Bravia and launched a marketing campaign touting the line as "The world's first television designed for men and women." While it remains to be seen how the sleek, 40-inch Sony Bravia KDL-V40XBR1 scores with the ladies, it delivers a knockout in terms of LCD picture quality. No, it still can't outperform the best similarly sized plasmas on the market, and yes, like most Sonys, this 40-inch flat-panel LCD has a premium price tag and costs quite a bit more than competing plasmas. But if you have your heart set on an LCD or just really like the look of this Sony--or the name Bravia--it might be worth the price.

A native resolution of 1,366x768 gives the Sony KDL-V40XBR1 enough pixels to deliver all the detail of 720p HDTV. As usual, the panel scales all incoming signals, from VHS to HDTV, to fit the available pixels. A lone NTSC tuner serves up standard-definition TV, while a single ATSC tuner delivers over-the-air HDTV. The QAM tuner and the set's Digital Cable Ready compatibility let you watch digital and HD cable without an external cable box.

Picture-in-picture tops the list of convenience features, along with independent input memories. Options for changing aspect ratio include Normal (displays 4:3 sources properly), Full (displays 16:9 sources properly and stretches 4:3 sources evenly to fit screen width), Wide Zoom (slightly crops the top and the bottom and stretches 4:3 sources to fill screen width), and Zoom (crops the top and the bottom of 4:3 sources to fit screen width). They all work with standard- and high-def sources. The Freeze feature lets you snap a screenshot of the picture, which is useful for writing down phone numbers on American Idol so that we don't end up with another Kelly Clarkson.

You can't say the KDL-V40XBR1 lacks connectivity, but we were disappointed to see only one HDMI input--most HDTVs at this price point have two. The back panel also has two component-video, one S-Video, and two composite-video inputs, all with matching stereo audio ins. In addition, the set provides the CableCard slot, two RF inputs, and a PC-compatible RGB input (up to 1,360x768 input resolution) with an accompanying stereo minijack audio input. Outputs include one optical digital audio and one variable/fixed stereo audio RCA pair.

Located on the panel's left side for easy access is a third component-video input, a composite-video input with stereo audio, a stereo minijack headphone output, and a USB port. The USB port allows connection of a Sony camera so that you can view photos or video.

[via: cnet]

Samsung LN-S3251D - LCD TV

2006-06-21T21:26:00.000-07:00

The Samsung LN-S3251D is a much more attractive television than the company's LN-R328W set that we tested before it. The two models have similar features, with mostly comparable connections. However, the LN-S3251D received a better rating thanks to its very high image quality scores and slightly more adjustability to its cabinet.

In our image-quality tests, the $1799 (on 3/24/06) LN-S3251D easily topped other recently tested LCD TVs. The LN-R328W, which we included in this batch as our reference model, came in a distant second overall. The newer unit made a big impression with its very bright screen, which contributed to its large margin of victory in our bright-lights test. But it also scored substantially higher than the other sets we looked at in our high-definition, standard-definition, and DVD tests. When tested, The LN-S3251D earned PC World's top rating for color quality, with a score that was 10 points higher than that of its closest competitor. As for sound, its speakers have adequate clarity, but bass frequencies lacked presence.

The cosmetic difference between the two Samsungs is dramatic: The LN-S3251D has a beautiful, shiny-black cabinet, which swivels nicely on its base. The LN-R328W has a drab gray cabinet, and it doesn't allow any adjustments whatsoever. The LN-S3251D has a long, thin, attractive remote control--the buttons aren't illuminated, but they have white lettering that helps you see what you're pushing. You can even press a button to freeze a live image. Some of the buttons at the bottom--mostly for picture-in-picture--are too tiny, though.

The LN-S3251D has two HDMI inputs (the LN-R328W has only one), one set of component ports, and two S-Video inputs (one on the side, for showing camcorder footage). But it does not have a CableCard slot, so you'll have to use a set-top box for cable or satellite sources. The LN-S3251D will let you control an iPod (with an optional interface), but Samsung didn't provide an iPod connection kit, so we couldn't try out this feature.

One annoyance: You can use picture-in-picture to juxtapose one HDMI input and one analog input, but you cannot do that with two HDMI sources. Samsung says that it's a technical limitation, and that it does not foresee people alternating between two HDMI sources.

The menu system on the LN-S3251D is much more attractive and useful than that of its predecessor. You can adjust the opacity of the menus so you can see the picture you're trying to adjust (but unfortunately, you can't make them totally transparent, as you can on Dell's W3201C). A graphic equalizer function lets you fine-tune the audio. Also, tooltips in the menus explain what settings do.

Upshot: The Samsung LN-S3251D is slightly more expensive than the company's LN-328W, but the premium gets you better image quality, a second HDMI port, and some adjustability. It'd be even more appealing with a CableCard slot, though.

[via: pcworld]

Pioneer PDP-5060HD - Plasma TV

2006-06-20T07:43:00.000-07:00

The PDP-5060HD Purevision plasma TV from Pioneer delivers the company’s customarily accurate, pleasing image quality in a relatively affordable 50-inch package. With a 1,280-by-768 native resolution, the 5060HD improves the image quality of its predecessors, has a good selection of A/V features, and does a decent job of concealing the company’s cost-cutting measures.

The plasma’s Media Receiver is an external set-top box that incorporates the A/V inputs. Annoyingly, using the display’s two HDMI inputs disables the two component video inputs on the rear of the Media Receiver, leaving only the front-accessible component video input active, and vice versa.

I like that the panel’s brightness setting important for preserving dark details was practically perfect right out of the box. Color (saturation) and tint levels required only minor adjustments to bring the secondary colors to near-perfect fi delity, while the ANSI contrast ratio is the best I’ve seen from a plasma display to date. The HDTV does an excellent job of suppressing noise and retains image detail well. Its image quality appeared slightly soft to me, but that helped mask noise artifacts often associated with pixel-based displays.

Although I could have done without the tiresome component video/HDMI switching “feature,” the PDP-5060HD is a solid choice for home-theater enjoyment.

[via: pcmag]

Viewsonic N3760W - LCD TV

2006-06-19T05:14:00.000-07:00

The Viewsonic N3760W is a quirky 37-inch LCD TV that offers a detailed picture and good color quality. The TV’s video processor is adept at preserving image detail when converting interlaced video into the LCD’s native progressive resolution. A few jagged edge artifacts snuck by the processor, and video noise reduction could be better. But the N3760w’s ability to produce natural-looking color is apparent when you're viewing DVD videos, and I confirmed it in the labs with a color analyzer.

The N3760w has its share of quirks. The autoscan feature missed most of the local HD channels, and you can’t enter station information manually or tune subchannels directly. The TV’s “universal” remote isn’t: It provides VHS/DVD-like controls but offers no way to program them to work with other A/V components.

With a list price of $1,999, the N3760w is a less attractive option when compared with the similarly sized and priced HP Pavilion LC3700N. The Pavilion offers more high-quality A/V inputs, a better video processor, and a superior remote control.

[via: pcmag]

Panasonic TH-42PV500

2006-06-16T22:33:00.000-07:00

Panasonic’s TH-42PV500 aims to provide the perfect balance of features, specifications and picture quality, and very nearly gets it right, too. Its tech spec is right up there with the best, providing full HD-readiness in the shape of support for both 720p and 1080i via an HDCP enabled HDMI socket. All the other requisite inputs and outputs are present. In fact, the only one missing is DVI, which is no big loss.

In terms of features, the TH-42PV500 has quite a lot more to offer than the average plasma screen. There’s a built-in Freeview tuner for a start, with full electronic programme guide (EPG). The screen also has not one but two slots for removable media, an SD card slot and a PC card slot that will accept PCMCIA adapters for a wide range of storage media. Interestingly, the TH-42PV500 will not only play back digital photos and MPEG4 video stored on memory cards, it will also record video to them – up to nine hours at ‘normal’ quality on a 1Gb SD card.

However, we do have a few bones to pick with the TH-42PV500. Firstly, the set seems unnecessarily bulky next to many of the other sets on test, with a much bigger surround framing the screen, which incorporates a pair of built-in speakers. Also, the input sockets are all on the back of the set rather than on the underside, which makes it a pain for wall-mounters to plug in and unplug external components. Then, there’s the fact that you have to navigate through an on-screen menu to switch from one input to another, rather than selecting each one via a button on the remote.

What is really annoying about the TH-42PV500, however, is the fact that its picture quality is almost excellent. We say ‘almost’ because, while the set boasts an amazing palette of colours, fantastic detail and sharp images on both HD and SD sources, the set suffers from some contrast issues that seem at odds with the claimed 3000:1 ratio. Even with the brightness adjustment turned right down or the contrast turned right up, blacks still looked greyer than on ther sets.

[via: activehome]

Pioneer PDP-436XDE

2006-06-15T22:44:00.000-07:00

Pioneer was one of the earliest manufacturers of plasma displays and has almost 10 years of commercial expertise and investment in plasma technology under its belt, which means the company’s boffins have been able to concentrate all their technical know-how on getting plasma just right. It also means the PDP-436XDE has a lot to live up to.

As if to prove it’s not like other manufacturers from the offset, Pioneer has eschewed common trend and produced a 43-inch screen rather than the standard 42-inch size favoured by many of its rivals. Not that you can really tell this from a casual glance. In fact, with its minimal black frame, the PDP-436XDE seems a lot less imposing than many of the other sets on test. From a purely practical point of view, the PDP-436XDE’s subtleyet-smart stylings are much more likely to suit a wide range of living room environments than some of the less sophisticated designs of the competition.

As with many of the sets we tested, the PDP-436XDE features removable speakers that clip on either side of the screen itself. There’s no doubt that the TV is better off without these additions where possible but,as far as speakers go, they’re reasonably attractive and have less of a detrimental impact on the overall look of the set than in many of the other cases here.

The PDP-436XDE comes in two bits – the screen itself and a media receiver box, which houses both Freeview and analogue TV tuners as well as all the various inputs and outputs. This is largely to aid those who are planning to wallmount the screen, although not having to grapple around behind the TV itself will be a blessing for many others besides. Some users may balk at the idea of another box to stack on top of the various DVD players, AV receivers and games consoles gathering in the living room. Thankfully Pioneer provides a cheaper all-in-one version of the same display (the PDP-436SXE) without the separate media box for those who prefer it.

In terms of connectivity, the PDP-436XDE has got pretty much everything you’d ever need, including no less than two HDCP-enabled HDMI sockets, component and VGA along with all the usual Scart, composite and S-video inputs. There’s even an optical digital audio output for hooking Freeview up to an external sound system. A useful bonus is the PC card slot, which can be used to pop in a memory card (with an adapter) to display digital photos.

Where Pioneer’s plasma really shines, however, is in the sheer quality of the image. True HD material and upscaled DVD movies look sensational over HDMI or component connections. At 720p resolution particularly, the PDP-436XDE just blows the competition away. Blacks look black, lines are sharp and even if you stand with your nose pressed against the screen you won’t find any graininess or blocks. Colours are vibrant yet beautifully balanced and there isn’t the slightest reflection on the glass, thanks to the special way that Pioneer builds its screens. Even DVD movies via Scart and bog-standard-def television programmes look tremendous.

If we were to nit-pick, we might point out the barely noticeable jagged edges that can sometimes appear on diagonal lines if you haven’t set the screen up properly. Or the vaguely annoying grey bars that you get either side of the image in 4:3 viewing mode. It’s even possible that we’d take issue with the fact that the VGA socket is positioned on the front of the media receiver, which could look a little unsightly if you leave a cable plugged in permanently.

But, as you can probably tell, it’s quite difficult to find much to complain about, other than the fact that the PDP-436XDE also happens to be the most expensive screen on test. All we can say is that this is aninstance where the extra cash is worth it.

[via: activehome]

NEC 42XR4

2006-06-14T22:16:00.000-07:00

Plasma screens aren’t just used for home cinema. They also have a whole separate parallel existence in the world of big business, employed as large screen displays in company lobbies and in boardrooms where projectors and bulky CRT monitors aren’t practical. NEC manufactures plasma screens for both commercial and consumer use and the 42XR4 is a curious blend of the two.

The first thing to point out is that, technically speaking, the 42XR4 isn’t a television. Unlike all the other sets on test, NEC’s display doesn’t actually feature a TV tuner –digital or otherwise – and requires the separate purchase of either a Freeview, cable or satellite box in order to view TV broadcasts. This in itself isn’t too much of a problem, as Freeview can be added fairly cheaply. However, since the 42XR4 has no Scart sockets and comes with no adapters for any of its other connections, physically hooking the screen up to external devices canprove to be something of a pain. Conversely, the 42XR4 has high-def connections in spades. There are two HDMI sockets and two sets of component inputs, as well as a VGA port.

Usefully, each of these inputs has its own corresponding button on the remote control handset, which is a much better system than having to switch between devices via an on-screen menu as with some other sets. Apart from the input selection, the remote handset is strangely bereft of buttons, largely due to the 42XR4’s lack of tuner and Teletext functions. What buttons there are, however, have been positioned badly. It’ll take you quite a while toget used to the off-centre fourway cursor pad and enter/exit buttons.

None of this would really matter if the 42XR4 outshone the competition in terms of performance. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case in our tests. There isn’t anything especially bad about the picture quality, but no matter how much we experimented with the display settings we just weren’t particularly blown away by what we saw. Even over HDMI, hi-def footage and upscaled DVDs lacked lustre and we needed to turn down all sharpness and noise reduction settings to compensate for a certain amount of unusual artefacts. Sadly, detachable speakers and some advanced picture-in-picture options just don’t make up for it.

[via: activehome]

LG 42PX5D

2006-06-13T22:04:00.000-07:00

On paper, the LG 42PX5D looks like a winner. It’s reasonably cheap, it’s got that all-important HD-Ready logo splashed all over it, and it has an impressive selection of connections, features and specifications, including a digital (Freeview) tuner, a memory card slot, an HDMI input and a claimed contrast ratio of 5,000:1. It’s not a bad looking set either, with a simple black frame around the screen itself and slate grey speakers either side. The speakers aren’t detachable, however, and their side-mounted positioning does tend to give the set a slightly bulky appearance.

A multitude of sockets and ports invite you to connect all your AV devices to the 42PX5D. As well as HDMI input, the set features three input/output Scarts and VGA, composite, S-video and audio inputs. The CompactFlash, SD, MMC, xD and Memory stick card slots add an extra dimension to the display. You can’t record video to memory cards like you can with the Panasonic Viera, but you can browse through photo collections on-screen or listen to MP3 tracks stored on removable media.

The unit is supplied with a tabletop stand, but if you’re planning on wall-mounting the set, we recommend plugging in all your external devices first. The majority of the 42PX5D’s inputs are located on the rear of the unit, access to which is nigh on impossible once the set is hanging on a wall.

Positioning of the inputs, however, is a small quibble compared to the issues we have with the 42PX5D’s image quality. Contrast levels are high, as promised, especially with the set’s XD mode switched on. But even after extensive calibration we could not achieve a particularly satisfactory level of picture quality on Freeview . Tweaking the settings only seemed to swing the image from being washed out to being excessively noisy with little in the way of middle ground. More unsettling was the fact that our test DVD looked markedly better via plain old RGB Scart than it did through an HDMI connection at either native or upscaled resolutions. We couldn’t find any explanation for why this should be, but it doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in the 42PX5D’s high-definition performance.

[via: activehome]

Hitachi 42PD7200

2006-06-12T21:53:00.000-07:00

Hitachi and Fujitsu share a plasma manufacturing plant in Japan, so it’s no surprise to find a few similarities between their respective products. Like the Fujitsu P42HTA51, Hitachi’s latest 42-incher is based around
a 1024 x 1024-pixel ALiS plasma screen. And, like the Fujitsu screen, the 42PD7200 looks its best when it’s displaying a 1080i high-def image. With a 720p signal, we noticed a slight increase in video noise, presumably due to the additional image processing required to display a 720-line progressive signal on a 1024- line interlaced screen.

That’s not to say that the 42PD7200’s highdef performance is disappointing. The set’s contrast levels, for example, are excellent, particularly with high-definition material and upscaled DVD images over HDMI. We were less impressed with the set’s abilities over standard-def RGB Scart, as our test DVD showed some shimmering edges and a little noise in the image.

There are plenty of picture adjustment options in the settings menu to play with. As well as all the usual contrast, brightness and colour options, the 42PD7200 offers Black Enhancement and some advanced colour temperature adjustments. Several special noise reduction and sharpness options are also available, although we found that the set invariably worked better with these switched off.

The 42PD7200 isn’t short of input options, either. As well as three bi-directional (input and output) Scart sockets, the set features component, VGA and DVI inputs as well as HDMI. A bevy of composite, S-video and audio inputs are also available via a small side-mounted add-on. In terms of design, the 42PD7200 is plain yet handsome. It comes with detachable speakers and, as an interesting bonus, a motorised swivelling stand. Very useful is the fact that the 42PD7200 remembers your picture settings and preferences for each input separately. Equally practical is the fact that the remote provides separate buttons for eachinput, making it much easier to switch from, say, a satellite box to a DVD player.

It’s a shame that the 42PD7200 features an analogue-only tuner, but given the set’s relatively low price, adding a Freeview box to your setup if you don’t already have one probably wouldn’t break the bank

[via: activehome]

Fujitsu Plasmavision P42HTA51ES

2006-06-11T21:30:00.000-07:00

The chaps at Fujitsu are old hands at the plasma game – so much so that many other manufacturers have traditionally built their plasma TVs around Fujitsu technology. As such, you’d expect the company to produce some very high-quality plasma products of their own. And, as it happens, you’d be right.

The P42HTA51ES has quite a stark, straightforward look to it. The metallic grey frame is fairly anonymous but pleasantly modern-looking and has the benefit of adding little to the screen’s dimensions – particularly if you decide not to attach the speakers and use your own homecinema surround setup instead.

As it happens, the P42HTA51ES has little in the way of its own sound processing other than tweaking the treble and bass of straightforward stereo audio. And if you do choose to use the unit’s own speakers, you’ll only be adding to the physical labour required to set the display up. In fact, both the speakers and the tabletop stand require a certain amount of assembly before you actually get to switching the set on.

However, when you do finally get to sit back and power up the P42HTA51ES, you’re unlikely to be disappointed. The Fujitsu panel definitely provides one of the best pictures in our test.

The built-in analogue-only TV tuner might not show off the screen to its best abilities, but plug in a DVD player or even a Freeview box into a Scart socket and you’ll soon see the screen in a better light. With HD material over HDMI or composite inputs the picture looks simply stunning, although we noted that the screen seems happier with 1080i resolution material over 720p. This is perhaps because the P42HTA51ES is technically an interlaced display, while most other plasmas are progressive. Even the onscreen menus are pleasant to look at. It may seem like a small point, but the simple yet sharp graphics and nicely animatedmenus areacut above, whichmakes it easier to twiddle the multitude of settings. The menus also contain some useful features, such as adjusting screen position and size. Best of all is Picture Memory, which allows you to store up to eight sets of user-programmed picture adjustments and call them up at will.

[via: activehome]

Viewsonic N3260W - LCD TV

2006-03-14T00:36:00.000-08:00

Like Acer, Viewsonic is a name that people will associate with computer components rather than household entertainment devices. And, like the Acer AT3201W, the Viewsonic N3260W betrays its desktop roots in several ways.

First, the menus and set-up system are unnecessarily awkward. Despite having an analogue-only tuner, the automated setup took a comparatively long time to complete. And when it had finished, we had to go through the whole thing all over again because all the tuner settings were lost when we tried to turn the volume down before accepting the new changes.

Second, the Viewsonic’s picture wasn’t especially impressive. In our tests the set’s colours were overly garish, and we had to take the saturation right down for most sources. Analogue TV looked worst of all, but even true 1080i and 720p HD video via the component inputs showed a marked increase in colour bleeding over the other screens in the test. There was also excessive noise in the picture, particularly with the DVD we played through the set’s HDMI and RGB Scart inputs.

The N3260W was one of the worst sets to be affected by motion blur. This was specifically evident on the DVD through the HDMI and RGB inputs. It was even noticeable in the true HD footage we tested, although to a much lesser degree. Curiously, the manufacturer quoted us a relatively fast response time of 8 milliseconds, which would normally help to reduce the motion blur effect.

Either way, the unholy triumvirate of saturation, noise and motion blur conspire to produce by far the worst picture of all the screens in this group. And even with a lot of fiddling in the annoying and inadequate settings menus, we couldn’t get particularly satisfactory results from broadcast TV or any of the set’s inputs.

At less than £900, the N3260W might be cheap but we suggest spending another £100 or so to get yourself a set with a much better picture.

[via: activehome]

Toshiba 32WLT58 - LCD TV

2006-03-13T00:24:00.000-08:00

While many of the sets on test struggled to produce a decent picture on standard TV, the Toshiba 32WLT58 managed to address many of the usual blockiness and colour issues experienced when watching broadcast telly programmes on an LCD set. Generally speaking, the image was quite soft, but the picture actually tends to benefit from this.

Unfortunately, the Toshiba’s strong standard definition broadcast performance was balanced by a mildly disappointing image quality on the DVD and HD side of things. Although the colours were strong and detail was good, we noticed quite a bit of motion blur on a DVD played through the RGB and HDMI inputs, although it was slightly less noticeable with the true high-definition test footage via the component input. This could be down to a slow response time, as with the Sharp model.

When we asked Toshiba to provide us witha response time figure, however, it refused. A spokers person offered us only the slightly patronising explanation that ‘we don’t quote for response time as it often confuses
consumers’.

That aside, the 32WLT58 is well-equipped to handle almost anything you’d ever want to plug into it. It comes with two HDMI sockets, as well as a VGA port for a PC and the usual array of Scart, composite and
S-video inputs. Some of these can be found on the side panel of the unit, which makes it easy to hook up a camcorder or games console. The speakers are placed under the screen rather than either side. The speakers are quite small but pack a fairly good punch, particularly when the sound is set to SRSWOW 3D surround.

It’s a shame about the motion issues because the 32WLT58’s performance on SD broadcast material would have made it ideal for the here and now, when most of us will still be watching mainly standard definition sources.

As it is, it is rather difficult to justify at a price of just under £1,200.

[via: activehome]

Sony KDL-V32A12U - LCD TV

2006-03-12T00:12:00.000-08:00

When you switch on the Sony Bravia KDL-V32A12U – or, indeed, any of the sets in this test – for the first time, you’re likely to get quite a shock. This is because, for reasons best known to themselves, manufacturers
tend to ship LCD TVs with their picture settings set in what they call ‘Dynamic’ or ‘Vivid’ mode, which usually means garishly vibrant colours and extreme brightness and contrast. This is also why you shouldn’t judge the picture of a TV in a shop.

Thankfully, this Sony’s intuitive menu system makes it very easy to rectify the picture, sound and any other settings you feel like tweaking while you’re at it. Particularly useful are the gamma correction and backlight controls; two options that aren’t always present in other manufacturers’ menus. Usefully you can, like the Hitachi set, create separate custom picture settings for each input – perfect if, for example, you like a slightly brighter picture on your DVD movies, but prefer a bit more contrast on broadcast TV.

After a lot of tinkering, we got an excellent picture for all external inputs. HD video over the component input was second only to that of the Philips 32PF9830, and the picture from a standard DVD upscaled 1080i looked particularly effective. Played at standard definition via one of the set’s three RGB Scarts, the same DVD still looked good, with rich detail and a pleasant softness not always typical of LCD screens. We did start to notice a little motion blur creeping in here.

Broadcast TV is the set’s real weak spot. Both analogue and digital channels are available, but neither look
particularly inspiring, with a lot of shimmering edges and blockiness going on. To a certain extent this is to be expected, and overall the Bravia does pretty well for a sub-£1,400 set.

It’s a handsome TV with a dark grey trim that makes it far less intrusive than many of its rivals here, and has a
few handy additional features, such as Virtual Dolby Surround as well as a slot for a Top Up TV card.

[Via: activehome]

Sharp Aquos LC-32GD7E - LCD TV

2006-03-11T00:03:00.000-08:00

As we’ve said elsewhere, looks are largely a matter of taste. However, the Sharp Aquos LC- 32GD7E has an imposing appearance, which is perhaps something to do with its stark silver colour, straight edges and the extra height from a larger-than-average speaker underneath the screen.

When it comes to connectivity, the LC-32GD7E covers just about everything other than DVI, which isn’t really necessary when you have HDMI and component for highdef input as well as VGA for PCin. Extra sockets include digital coaxial audio in and output – i n c re a s i n g ly useful as more component s , such as DVD players, games consoles and satellite boxes, use digital connections as the best way to take advantage of soundtracks.

It’s particularly relevant in the case of the LC-32GD7E, because that large speaker under the screen can pump out sound in Virtual Dolby Surround. Curiously, only one of the two Scart sockets is RGB enabled, making the set slightly less suitable for those with several standard definition components, such as set-top boxes and DVD recorders, that need plugging into the set.

This is a bit of a shame, because the picture over the RGB connection is pretty good, with deep blacks and nice detail.With our HD test source material, the picture was also excellent, although the screen lost a lot of its lustre if we didn’t plonk ourselves directly in front of the set. Sharp claims that the viewing angle is 170 degrees, but at an angle, there is less contrast in the picture, whether viewing HD or SD source. We also noticed quite a bit of motion blur. This might have something to with the panel’s relatively slow response time (16 milliseconds). An LCD’s response time is usually measured as the time it takes a pixel to go from black to white to black again.

The LC-32GD7E has both digital and analogue tuners but its slightly disappointing performance makes it hard to recommend, especially when it’s the second most expensive set on test.

[via: activehome]