July 2006
First Look: Sharp LC-37D90U: 1080p in a 37-inch LCD set
The Sharp LC-37D90U, a 37-inch LCD TV that sells for $2,500, is among the best LCD sets we've ever tested. It's one of the
few sets of this size with 1080p native resolution, the highest currently available for a consumer TV. The question is whether
it's worth paying for 1080p resolution--which has 1920x1080 pixels--on a relatively small screen. Here's our take based on
preliminary tests.
PROS
Superb detail. As you'd expect, given the unusually high pixel density (meaning it has lots of pixels for this screen size), this set has gorgeous resolution. It displayed extremely fine, clear detail from both Blu-ray and HD DVD players connected through the HDMI input. (It's worth noting that the LC-37D90U is a "true" 1080p set that can accept 1080p signals from external sources and display them in 1080p format. Many of the first 1080p models have not supported 1080p via HDMI connectors from external sources.) When we piped 1080i HD TV signals through the component-video input, the TV did a beautiful job upconverting images to 1080p. There were no visible "jaggies" during motion sequences. The precision was even more striking when we displayed test patterns that bring out most TVs' inability to display the finest lines.
Great as a computer display. The Sharp shone when we connected it to a laptop computer that could support 1920x1080 resolution via HDMI outputs. The high-resolution screen shows all the pixels, so you don't have to worry about image overscan, which can hide important icons on your Windows desktop.
Solid color and grayscale. The promotional material from Sharp claims that this set's four-wavelength backlight system enhances color rendering. We found that colors looked accurate, though a tad less vibrant than on some other LCDs we've seen. The LC-37D90U was also able to portray subtle image detail near the brightest and darkest of scenes, often a problem for LCD, plasma, and rear-projection TVs. That's due in part to its strong grayscale performance and stable black level.
Three digital inputs. There are two HDMI inputs and one DVI connection, a plus if you want to hook up a high-def DVD player. The tradeoff is that the TV has only one component-video and S-video input, which could limit connection options.
Other pluses. The speakers are bottom-mounted, trimming the width of the set, and can be detached if you prefer them elsewhere. Sound quality was fine, and the remote and menu were easy to use.
CONS
Limited viewing angle. Though its specs claim a generous 176-degree viewing angle, we found that this TV has a fairly narrow sweet spot for viewing--more limited than on other LCD sets we've seen, including other Sharp models. The picture looks great from dead center but degrades as you angle away from the center, becoming increasingly washed out and faded.
So-so black level. Black level has long been a weakness of LCD TVs, although some new sets have improved in this regard. The LC-37D90U isn't one of them. Although we optimized the settings, we couldn't get as deep a black as on other LCD sets, including others in Sharp's line. We found the screen to be a little too bright, which may contribute to the problem. Setting the backlight to minimum does help a bit, but it also results in an overall dimmer image, not ideal for daytime viewing.
BOTTOM LINE
For outstanding detail and sharp images, it's hard to beat the Sharp LC-37D90U. With the right image and the optimal viewing position, the picture quality is beautiful, even viewed up close. It's less impressive than some other LCD TVs with dark scenes and off-angle viewing. The resolution is a major plus if you want to use the set as both a computer display and a TV. An alternative: Sony's 40-inch Bravia KDL-40S2000. While not a 1080p set, it has fine picture quality. You'll trade off some of the incredibly fine detail of the Sharp for a bigger screen with better blacks and a wider viewing angle. The Sony costs roughly the same, about $2,500.
PROS
Superb detail. As you'd expect, given the unusually high pixel density (meaning it has lots of pixels for this screen size), this set has gorgeous resolution. It displayed extremely fine, clear detail from both Blu-ray and HD DVD players connected through the HDMI input. (It's worth noting that the LC-37D90U is a "true" 1080p set that can accept 1080p signals from external sources and display them in 1080p format. Many of the first 1080p models have not supported 1080p via HDMI connectors from external sources.) When we piped 1080i HD TV signals through the component-video input, the TV did a beautiful job upconverting images to 1080p. There were no visible "jaggies" during motion sequences. The precision was even more striking when we displayed test patterns that bring out most TVs' inability to display the finest lines.
Great as a computer display. The Sharp shone when we connected it to a laptop computer that could support 1920x1080 resolution via HDMI outputs. The high-resolution screen shows all the pixels, so you don't have to worry about image overscan, which can hide important icons on your Windows desktop.
Solid color and grayscale. The promotional material from Sharp claims that this set's four-wavelength backlight system enhances color rendering. We found that colors looked accurate, though a tad less vibrant than on some other LCDs we've seen. The LC-37D90U was also able to portray subtle image detail near the brightest and darkest of scenes, often a problem for LCD, plasma, and rear-projection TVs. That's due in part to its strong grayscale performance and stable black level.
Three digital inputs. There are two HDMI inputs and one DVI connection, a plus if you want to hook up a high-def DVD player. The tradeoff is that the TV has only one component-video and S-video input, which could limit connection options.
Other pluses. The speakers are bottom-mounted, trimming the width of the set, and can be detached if you prefer them elsewhere. Sound quality was fine, and the remote and menu were easy to use.
CONS
Limited viewing angle. Though its specs claim a generous 176-degree viewing angle, we found that this TV has a fairly narrow sweet spot for viewing--more limited than on other LCD sets we've seen, including other Sharp models. The picture looks great from dead center but degrades as you angle away from the center, becoming increasingly washed out and faded.
So-so black level. Black level has long been a weakness of LCD TVs, although some new sets have improved in this regard. The LC-37D90U isn't one of them. Although we optimized the settings, we couldn't get as deep a black as on other LCD sets, including others in Sharp's line. We found the screen to be a little too bright, which may contribute to the problem. Setting the backlight to minimum does help a bit, but it also results in an overall dimmer image, not ideal for daytime viewing.
BOTTOM LINE
For outstanding detail and sharp images, it's hard to beat the Sharp LC-37D90U. With the right image and the optimal viewing position, the picture quality is beautiful, even viewed up close. It's less impressive than some other LCD TVs with dark scenes and off-angle viewing. The resolution is a major plus if you want to use the set as both a computer display and a TV. An alternative: Sony's 40-inch Bravia KDL-40S2000. While not a 1080p set, it has fine picture quality. You'll trade off some of the incredibly fine detail of the Sharp for a bigger screen with better blacks and a wider viewing angle. The Sony costs roughly the same, about $2,500.
