PICTURE QUALITY This model had very good high-definition picture quality. It did a decent job displaying detail, but texture was marred by active noise reduction processing. Though noise reduction was apparently active despite being turned off in the menu, we found that going into the menu and turning it on, then turning it off, actually removed the unwanted processing and restored image detail. Unfortunately, when you turn the TV off the noise reduction becomes active again. Color accuracy was very good, with images generally looking natural, though reds did appear a bit more intense than they should be, and color temperature was slightly on the cool side, lending images a bluish tone. Contrast--the difference between the darkest blacks and brightest whites--was good, so images had depth and dimension, typical of most models we test. The brightness level was generally good, making it a suitable choice for most room. However, on some video clips we saw subtle fluctuations in image brightness from scene to scene. We couldn't find a feature to turn this off, but this effect wasn't apparent on most videos we watched. There was slight banding (unnatural contours) on scenes with subtly shaded light-to-dark areas, such as a sky during sunset, rather than a smooth transition in the shaded areas. Image texture, especially on skin, was slightly lacking in detail. 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 excellent, with no visible jaggies along the edges of objects during motion scenes. Deinterlacing on the other hand was only good, with some jaggies visible when converting 1080i video content, such as from cable, to the display's native resolution.
VIEWING ANGLE This Sharp has a narrow viewing angle overall, below-average performance among LCD sets on this attribute. Only those seated directly in front of the screen will see the best picture quality. If your family is seated in chairs off to the sides of the TV, they will see increasing degradation of image quality the farther they sit from center.
When we moved off to the sides the horizontal viewing angle was fair; the picture showed a strong loss of color so flesh tones looked very washed out, along with a strong color shift. Black levels brightened significantly, making dark scenes look hazy. When viewing the image from above or below eye level to the screen, the vertical viewing angle was good. The picture showed some change in color, contrast, and black level.
ULTRA HD PERFORMANCE This Sharp UHD TV delivers full 4K picture detail, with very good HD-to-UHD upconversion. All native 4K content we played on this SHARP, including movies and videos, were presented in full detail with generally excellent image fidelity 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, but it was mild and not always apparent. We were able to stream 4K content from Netflix and Amazon Prime, confirming the set does include an HEVC decoder. The 4K programs showed better detail and texture over the 1080p version of the same program, though again we did detect a bit of edge enhancement. 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 generally reproduced accurately with detail extending to the limits of UHD's resolution, but we also detected some slight horizontal and vertical aliasing on the Redray player's zone plate pattern, but it wasn't strong enough to affect the clarity of very fine detail on photos. When playing 1080p movie content from a Blu-ray disc, we found the TV's HD-to-UHD upconversion processing was very good. The 1080p image had oversharpening applied, but jaggies on along the edges of objects was kept to a minimum. This model provides access to picture settings with any of these viewing modes so you can tweak the image to your preference. For more on how we test UHD see "ABOUT ULTRA HD PERFORMANCE" below.
MOTION BLUR This Sharp TV has only fair motion performance, with significant blurring on our motion tests. Though this model includes Motion Enhancement, 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 Though not as mirror-like as on some LCDs, this screen surface is glossy and therefore 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 good, fine for typical TV programming, but won't reproduce the full range of movie soundtracks and music. It has a good volume range so the TV can play sufficiently loud in most room environments, though quality degrades at the highest settings. At more typical listening volume levels the TV's sound has good bass and impact, but is bright sounding. Most will find this sound quality acceptable.
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.
Remote has a dedicated button to access Internet features. We found the set responds slowly to commands from the remote.
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 provides basic Internet functionality with a limited selection of applications. Movie streaming services include: Netflix, Vudu.
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), optical digital audio out, three USB ports, an Ethernet port, Wi-Fi, and a Yes memory card slot. Wireless connectivity includes: DLNA network file sharing. 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: an electronic user manual accessible via the TV's menu (no printed manual is included), 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.
