Stunning Realism from Sharp's New LCD TV

(page 2 of 2)

This TV did not suffer from a major issue that marred an otherwise stellar lower-end HD set that Sharp introduced last year. Many early high-definition TVs had issues with irregular dark stripes running either horizontally or vertically through the picture. I could find no evidence the problem persists in this latest generation from Sharp. I also checked out the set in a few electronics stores, and couldn't see any banding on those displays either.

Ambient Light Sensor

As I mentioned, the overall picture quality was quite good, and required little adjustment out of the box. Still, there are plenty of options for the videophile who likes tinkering, including five preset configurations for color temperature. There are dedicated modes for watching movies, playing games, and more, as well as a "user mode" that lets you fine-tune everything from tint and picture sharpness to contrast and brightness.

As with other Sharp sets, this one features an ambient light sensor that can automatically adjust the monitor's brightness to suit a room's lighting. While a neat option, this feature should generally be turned off with this model since the picture already veers toward the dark side, even in well-lit rooms.

Sharp's remote fits nicely in your hand, though the layout of certain buttons remains a problem. For example, it's hard to change quickly between those dedicated picture modes because you have to flip open a hatch. And while many programs now come in the 16:9 wide-screen aspect ratio, the button for viewing traditional TV in the 3:2 ratio format is tucked in among the many at the top.

Can't Reach Those Buttons

Fortunately, the set doesn't skimp on connectivity choices. Like nearly all sets nowadays, you can connect an antenna to the back to tune in any local stations offering digital broadcasts. There also are three high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) inputs, two component inputs, and both composite and S-video slots. There's also a digital video interface (DVI) slot for playing video and other media stored on a personal computer, as well as digital and analog audio outputs.

Other minor gripes: You won't get the picture-in-picture feature common to other high-end sets. And as with other Sharp TVs, the on/off and volume buttons are located on the top surface of the set, which can be hard to see or reach if the display is mounted on the wall. The consumer would be better-served if these buttons were moved to the side of the set toward the bottom, where they'd be within arm's reach, but out of sight.

Overlooking those quibbles, the Sharp LC-52D92U would have a place of pride in my home.

Edwards is a correspondent in BusinessWeek's Silicon Valley bureau.