Sharp Aquos LC37D40U 37-Inch LCD HDTV with Integrated ATSC Tuner
Friday, December 18th, 2009 at
11:04 am
- 37-inch LCD TV ready for HDTV right out of the box; measures 37.25 x 28.55 x 12 inches (WxHxD) with stand
- Integrated NTSC, ATSC tuners; QAM tuner compatible with unscrambled HDTV cable reception
- 1366 x 768-pixel resolution, 450 cd/m2 brightness, 1200:1 contrast ratio, ultra-fast 6 ms response time
- Inputs: 3 composite, 1 S-Video, 2 component, 2 HDMI, 1 RF
- Two stereo speakers, 10 watts apiece (20 watts total); digital optical audio out
Product DescriptionSharp LC37D40U 37″ LCD TVAmazon. com Product DescriptionSharp’s LC-37D40U high-definition LCD HDTV proves you don’t have to sacrifice style for technology. This gorgeous 37-inch set features a strikingly shiny . . . More >>
Sharp Aquos LC37D40U 37-Inch LCD HDTV with Integrated ATSC Tuner
Tagged with: 37inch • aquos • atsc • hdtv • integrated • LC37D40U • sharp • tuner
Filed under: 40 Inch LCD HDTV
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Hey, Hitachi America is not a publicly traded company, nor is Sharp. I could care less here. But the guy is telling the truth.
I think the guy just has enough of the non-sense in the TV business. I bet $50 on a shootout between this Hitachi LCD and Sharp. If Hitachi does not win in viewing angles, black levels and response time, you can say that guy is biased. By the way, I do not own a Hitachi LCD. But his review at least lets me pay attention to this much less advertised TV and its core technology. If you have not realized that advertising is a sucker’s game, I have to feel sorry for you. BY the way, this TV listed here on Amazon site does not have an HDMI connection. I am OK with that for the time being as DVI is just the same except for no audio. I am prepared to buy a DVI to HDMI cable if the need arises. But I would not trade a $25 cable for performance, would you? not to mention, it has a power swivel stand! ** I just learned that Hitachi has made a running change on this TV since the beginning of 2006. The 37HDL52A (notice the addition of A to the end) has an HDMI input in lieu of DVI. ** Ironicaly, in Japan, Hitachi has a much higher market recognition than Sharp.
Rating: 3 / 5
Summary: Forget about the advertisement. What I have learned through my own research and years of experience in the semi-conductor industry has boiled down to this: the difference is LCD making methodology is by far the most significant cause to the LCD picture performance. Sharp’s LCD making method is TFT, Sony (the much hyped Bravia line) and Samsung use S-PVA. Hitachi, LG/Philips, Syntax, Dell, Westinghouse and others use S-IPS. Based on the testing results, S-IPS (Super In-Plane Switching) is simply the best overall choice. TFT has absolutely been outclassed by S-IPS in viewing angels, response time and black levels. S-IPS is the technology originally developed by Hitachi and later licensed to LG/Philips, Zenith, Syntax and some others. Having spent years in the semi-conductor industry and traveled to Asia more often to Boston, I understand the S-IPS pretty well. I thought it is just a matter of finding one set and make a quick side-by-side comparison. I looked at both LG and Syntax LCDs. Both have slightly better viewing angles than the Sharp LCD, which and noticeably better handling of fast motion objects esp. around the image edges at a high speed. I could still detect easily the blurry moving edges of high-speed objects on Sharp LC-37D40U. But my frustration started with the black levels on LG and Syntax, which are disappointing to say the least and did not fare better than the Sharp LC-37D40U. The Syntax one is horrible in terms of displaying the low gray scales (conventionally called black levels). I could not see the subtle details in any dark objects such the textures of dark clothing and shadows of trees. All I see is this fuzzy darkness. LG one is, on the other hand, so much over the top. The pictures are so hard and feel like they are “screaming” at you. It does not have the color naturalism and the human skin tone is way off (the red push on human faces is unbearable). I finally turned to a friend in the TV business, who told me to look at the S-IPS originator, Hitachi. After doing some reading on their site, I was very much into Hitachi’s Director Series’ 32HDLX51 due to its AS-IPS (Advanced Super In-Plane Switching), cream of the crop, but I need a bigger size than 32″. I decided to go for the 37HDL52. It took some time to locate one in a local shop (but I bought on-line, why not?) as it is not sold in any national chain stores like Best Buy or Circuit City. 37HDL52 beats this Sharp 37 incher hands down in all aspects of picture performance the way S-IPS should top TFT. But what really helps me close the deal is its ability to display black levels. I challenge any serious buyer to find a LCD which can render better black levels than this Hitachi line of LCD. I have not found one. On a side note, I believe Hitachi made a stupid mistake to license its technology to these companies who have failed to fully capitalize the full strength of S-IPS. Last but not least, what bothers me quite a bit are the key specs from Sharp such as 1200:1 contrast ratio and 176 degree viewing angles. Well, they are not even close to my naked eyes. It, at best, has a 120 degree viewing angle esp. on color shift.
Rating: 3 / 5
I own both this Aquous and a 37 inch Panasonic plasma TV. As good as the Sharp is, it is not as brilliant and exciting as the Panasonic, which looks almost 3d sometimes. I have waited about three months to make my final decision but the Plasma wins. .
Rating: 3 / 5
TV broke 3 weeks ago. Sharp has a no return policy. Now suffering through the repair process. I deeply regret this purchase.
Rating: 1 / 5
I’m very happy with the equipment but not so much with the reception which is likely no fault of Sharp. The picture is distinctly less crisp than on my Sony tube set and I’ve brought in DirecTV who assure me it is not due to a weak signal.
Rating: 4 / 5