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Sharp LC46XD1E Review |
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Reviewed: 13 Jun 2007
Design
Sharp's trademark chic silvery wave makes the LC46XD1E instantly recognizable as a member of their Aquos ranges. Add ultra glossy black finish with matching pedestal, and we have an extremely stylish piece of kit on our hands.
Features
A 'Full HD' native resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 is the star attraction with this screen, and the Sharp LC46XD1E is able to fully exploit this technology by handling the highest quality 1080p sources. In addition, the LC46XD1E's 'Underscan' mode enables1080-line sources (Sky TV, 1080i etc) to be shown in their pure, native fashion, which means a one-to-one pixel mapping rather than any downscaling to fit a lower resolution screen.
Screen size & shape: 46in 16:9 Tuner: Digital Sound system: Nicam/A2 Stereo Resolution: 1920 x 1080 HD Ready: Yes Contrast Ratio: 1200:1 Brightness: 450cd/m2 OTHER FEATURES: 7-day EPG support. SOCKETS: 2 HDMI input, 2 scarts (1 RGB), composite video input, S-video input, PC input.
The Sharp LC46RD2E has good rather than outstanding connectivity with 2 HDMI inputs, two Scart terminals (1 RGB), composite, S-video and PC input. There is no dedicated composite video input, the only option to connect a device requiring it via an adapter through the panels PC input.
The verdict is still out on just how much of a difference a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution makes, but if there is a noticeable difference, we will surely see it on a 46in panel. If you are a PS3 owner then this panel will show the 1080p output this games console is capable off in its full unadulterated glory.
Picture processing on the Sharp LC46XD1E comes in the shape of TruD technology, which enhances detail and contrast while creating more progressive movement from external sources and also minimizing motion judder. In addition there is Sharp’s 4-Wavelength Backlight System, which adds crimson to the standard RGB spectrum to improve natural red reproduction and skin tones.
The Sharp LC46XD1E comes equipped with a built-in Freeview tuner and 7-day Electronic Programming Guide (EPG) with a small window which allows the viewer to carry on watching the main display.
A couple of interesting sound features include surround mode and a “Clear Voice” function that improves speech if you're watching programmes which are dialogue heavy such as chat shows.
Performance
If the likes of Sony and Panasonic changed our perception of LCD's ability to challenge Plasma's Black Level performance domination, Sharp's Aquos range has been driving on from the beach head. While not yet surpassing the best that plasma has to offer in this respect, the gap is narrowing, and significantly so.
The LC46XD1E delivers a black level performance which is rarely seen on an LCD TV, and this performance is backed up with excellent grey level detail, which takes you smoothly and consistently from the blackest blacks to greyer areas with very little loss of shadow detail.
The Sharp LC46XD1E was built for High Definition, and it shows. The screen handles High Definition sources superbly with a picture quality that has few rivals. Pictures are pin sharp, and show an incredible level of detail. Colours are truly outstanding, showing a realism of tone and texture that is a reflection of the capabilities of the Full HD format. Along with its bigger brother the LC52XD1E, viewing HD on the LC46XD1E is a true cinematic experience.
Standard Definition (SD) pictures on the LC46XD1E highlight the shortcomings of the format rather than the panel itself (even today's electronic wizardry is not able to deliver totally pristine pictures from a 576p source t0 a 1080 panel), but shortcoming they are. There is a noticeable amount of intrusion from video noise with Freeview sources, and we also noticed some banding issues.
To finish on a positive note, the LC46XD1E is perhaps the most accomplished large LCD for handling motion, whether the video source is SD or HD. Motion blurring is still visible from a lower quality source, but it is minimal, and the performance in this respect is nothing short of a revelation for an LCD TV.
Conclusion
The Sharp LC46XD1E delivers a superb all round performance, with a true cinematic HD performance as well as more than competent Standard Definition capability. Highly recommended.
