Television Product Review For: Sharp LC 42D62U

Product: Sharp LC-42D62U
Overview:
Note: This product is part of the Sharp LC-D62U series. .
Review:
Quick take: The Sharp LC-D62U series consists of three flat-panel LCD TVs: the 42-inch LC-42D62U, the 46-inch LC-46D62U, and the 52-inch LC-52D62U. All three sets are 1080p HDTVs, which means they have a native resolution of 1,920x1,080 and should be able to display every detail of 1080i and 1080p content. In terms of image quality, we have completed a full review of the Sharp LC-46D62U, and while we were impressed by its black-level performance, we did find a couple of other issues that kept it from achieving our full recommendation. While we have not reviewed the 52-inch LC-52D62U, we believe the performance of the LC-46D62U is a good indicator of its image quality. However, the quoted specs for the 42-inch LC-42D62U are slightly less than those of the larger models, claiming only 1,200:1 contrast ratio and a 6 millisecond response time. In other words, we're not sure whether the 42-inch model will exhibit the same sorts of performance characteristics as the 46-incher that we tested. In terms of features, all sets feature a built-in HDTV tuner which means you won't need an external set-top box to pull in over-the-air HDTV signals. The sets also lack a CableCard slot, and though that means you're out of luck if you want to ditch your cable box, we don't consider it a serious omission. In terms of connectivity, all the sets are highlighted by two HDMI inputs, two component-video inputs, and three A/V inputs (one with S-Video). While they lack dedicated PC inputs, you can sacrifice one of the HDMI inputs to connect a computer that has a DVI output, using a DVI-to-HDMI adapter. The Sharp LC-42D62U, the Sharp LC-46D62U, and the Sharp LC-52D62U are all currently available with list prices of $2,300, $3,300 and $4,500, respectively.