PICTURE QUALITY This model's high-definition picture quality, though good, was below that of most other sets. It did a very good job displaying fine detail. Edges of objects in the image stood out too much because of over-enhancement. Color accuracy was acceptable, but below that of most sets. Color temperature was moderately on the cool side, lending images a bluish tone, while flesh tones tended toward pink. Contrast--the difference between the darkest blacks and brightest whites--was good, so images had depth and dimension, but highlights were overly bright while darker shadow details were a bit compressed. The brightness level was good, making it a suitable choice for most rooms. Black levels were only fair -- black areas of the image were too bright, and darker scenes looked unnaturally illuminated. Dark scenes, in particular, were visibly lacking in contrast, giving images a flatter, less dynamic appearance. In scenes with subtly shaded light-to-dark areas, such as a sky during sunset, the TV did a very good job producing a smooth transition without distinct, coarse bands. There was a slight uneven brightness effect that created cloudy areas most noticeable on very dark scenes. We routinely see this type of issue with many brands of LCD TVs, regardless of the type of backlight used (CCFL or LED). Though it's generally not a significant problem, it can vary in degree from TV to TV. Film mode operation for HD film-based content was ineffective with visible jaggies along the edges of objects during motion scenes on movies. Deinterlacing on the other hand was excellent, with minimal jaggies visible when converting 1080i video content, such as from cable, to the display's native resolution.
VIEWING ANGLE This Changhong has a wide viewing angle overall, better than that of most LCDs. It will provide the same picture quality, with fewer problems than most LCD sets, for typical viewing conditions--say, if your family is seated across a long sectional or in chairs off to the sides of the TV.
With brighter scenes, like sporting events, the display did a fine job maintaining accurate colors and decent contrast whether we moved off to the sides or were viewing from above or from below screen. The picture did show some dimming from the sides but not to any point we found distracting. With dark scenes the display didn't fare quite as well. When viewed from the sides, the depth of black levels varied depending on the vertical position of the viewer's head. As we moved closer to the screen this limitation became even more apparent, especially if seated on the floor looking upward where black levels brightened significantly. This display's wide viewing angle is best appreciated when viewed at eye level to the screen.
ULTRA HD PERFORMANCE This Changhong UHD TV delivers a decent 4K picture but falls short on HD-to-UHD upconversion, and access to 4K content. All native 4K content we played on this Changhong, including movies and videos, were presented with generally fine detail when played back via the TV's HDMI inputs. We detected some subtle edge enhancement applied to the image which accentuates the outlines around objects, and image texture was somewhat pasty, but these were not always readily apparent. The TV requires an optional Roku stick for access to internet, but the Changhong doesn't support streaming 4K content from the internet. We tried playing 4K videos and photos from a flash drive input via the TV's USB port and results were disappointing; The TV could not play our HEVC videos or recognize "MP4" files recorded from the Sony 4K camcorder. Our 4K resolution test patterns and photos were downsampled to the lower 1080p resolution, not taking advantage of the display's detail potential. When playing 1080p movie content from a Blu-ray disc, we found the TV's HD-to-UHD upconversion processing fell short mainly due to issues noted in the HD picture quality comments. On the positive side, the edges of objects were generally smooth with minimal jaggies. For more on how we test UHD see "ABOUT ULTRA HD PERFORMANCE" below.
MOTION BLUR This Changhong TV has only fair motion performance, with significant blurring on our motion tests. Though this model includes EMR, a feature designed to reduce motion blur, we found it was ineffective. On typical program content, the blurring effect is often fleeting and may not bother most people. However, keen-eyed viewers may detect the loss of texture and detail on scenes with movement, especially in high-quality video such as a Blu-ray movie.
SCREEN REFLECTIVITY The screen surface on this LCD TV has one of the shinier mirror-like surfaces we've seen, which makes it very susceptible to reflections from a nearby lamp or window. The screen is dark so it does a good job reducing glare from ambient light and maintains contrast even in a bright room.
SOUND QUALITY This TV's sound is only fair, acceptable for typical programming but shortcomings become obvious with movie soundtracks and music. It has a good volume range so the TV can play sufficiently loud in most room environments. At more typical listening volume levels the TV has a generally smooth sound but only decent bass and impact. If sound quality matters to you, you might want to add a soundbar or other external speaker system to this set.
EASE OF USE Overall, we found the set easy to use. Setting up the TV for the first time was straightforward, as was access to features and controls you'll probably adjust only once. Ease of access to features you typically use more often was very good. Also, the remote is very good, and the on-screen menu is easy to navigate.
The remote's major function buttons were sufficiently large and have high-contrast labeling, making them easier to see and navigate. When making a video adjustment, the on-screen menu covers a significant part of the screen making it difficult to see the picture as you make adjustments. It lacks the ability to add custom labels to different input sources.
STAND ASSEMBLY Mounting the TV to the included support stand is fairly straightforward. The stand requires the assembly of a few parts before mounting.
INTERNET FEATURES This TV does not have access to the Internet.
CONNECTIONS This TV includes four HDMI inputs, one shared connection between the component and composite inputs (which means you can only use one type or the other at a time), one VGA input, coaxial digital audio out, and one USB port. This TV has no type of wireless connectivity. The cable connections on the rear panel are recessed with side or bottom-facing ports, so wires don't protrude beyond the display's depth.
INCLUDED IN THE BOX The TV comes with: a printed user manual, an electronic manual in the TV's menu, a quick start guide, and a remote with batteries. ABOUT FIRMWARE VERSION: Our test results and picture settings are valid for the version of firmware indicated. If your TV's firmware differs from the one shown you either have an older or a newer version of firmware. Manufacturers may periodically upgrade the TV's firmware to enhance operation, fix bugs, or add features. Firmware upgrades may be downloadable directly to your TV via a wired or wireless network (if internet capable), USB port, or memory card, depending on your TV's capability. You can check your TV's firmware version, or upgrade to the latest firmware by pressing the menu button on your remote and navigating to the appropriate submenu, typically under settings. Consult the user manual or manufacturer's website if further guidance is needed.
