How to select the right Sharp HDTV
Another noteworthy feature is the 1-bit digital audio amplifier (amp). Besides sporting higher power efficiency than conventional analog amps, it also runs cooler and can faithfully reproduce original TV and movie soundtracks. According to Sharp, the system samples audio signals 64 times faster than a CD for smoother and more realistic sounds. Some of Sharp's recent releases pack fast 100Hz refresh rates to smoothen motion judder, as well as the increasingly popular LED backlighting for mega contrast and plasma-like blacks.
Click on the images to find out more about the series.
A35-series LCD TV
Branded under Sharp's Aquos personal series, the LC-19A35M is a petite 19-incher that is meant primarily for the bedroom and study lounge. It has an underlying ASV LCD panel which offers limited viewing angles, plus a rather humble 2W x 2 digital amp that is probably sufficient for small spaces. On the bright side, the LC-19A35M earns its eco-friendly credentials with an integrated Optical Picture Control (OPC) light sensor. This measures your room lighting condition and optimizes screen brightness to reduce glare and conserve power.
Connectivity-wise, this TV comes with a single HDMI input which is pretty common for its size, but is limited to signals at up to 1080i resolution. Nevertheless, it's hard to nitpick on the variety of A/V ports in the mix, in particular, the S-video socket for optimal backward compatibility with legacy equipment. S-video is gradually being phased out by many other vendors. To better match your room decor, the LC-19A35M is available in black, white and red finishes.
Key specifications
| Model | LC-19A35M | ||
| Screen size | 19-inch | ||
| Resolution | 1,366 x 768 | ||
| Contrast (native) | 800:1 | ||
| No. of HDMI inputs | 1 | ||
| Multimedia playback | N.A. | ||
Quick summary
The Aquos LC-19A35M has a very small screen which you should consider mainly for personal entertainment or as a secondary TV.A37-series LCD TVs
The Aquos A37-series HDTVs offer many significant upgrades over the A35-series. Not only is the former available in more family-centric 32- and 37-inch screen sizes, both models have stepped-up ASV panels that deliver a more competent 10,000:1 performance and increase viewing angle to a much wider 176 degrees. To match the enhanced image quality, Sharp has retrofitted the A37s using a 10W x 2 digital audio amp, giving these panels reasonable power to drive their speakers in larger rooms.
Furthermore, these entry-to-midrange Aquos panels have dual HDMI 1.3 terminals as standard, allowing better expansion flexibility when hooking up to multiple A/V gear such as DVD players, settop boxes and game consoles. That said, these jacks still have the 1080i-only bottleneck similar to those on the A35-series and are not fully optimized for playing back Blu-ray discs. Oddly, Sharp is also including a serial port for PC administration. This is a common feature for more elaborate custom installation, though we doubt it's handy for most value-conscious consumers interested in this range.
Key specifications
| Model | LC-32A37M | LC-37A37M | |
| Screen size | 32-inch | 37-inch | |
| Resolution | 1,366 x 768 | ||
| Contrast (dynamic) | 10,000:1 | ||
| No. of HDMI inputs | 2 | ||
| Multimedia playback | N.A. | ||
Quick summary
The Aquos A37-series is shaping up to be a respectable offering for both regular TV broadcasts and HD programs, especially for consumers on a budget.A66-series LCD TVs
Higher up the performance ladder is the midrange A66-series, equipped with full-HD ASV super lucent panels capable of delivering up to 50,000:1 dynamic contrast for better blacks. To complement these promising enhancements, it also has a true 10-bit color gamut in excess of 1 billion discreet hues. Sound-wise, it still has the same 10W x 2 digital amp of the A37 line except that Sharp has added SRS TruSurround XT virtual surround processing and digital optical audio output. The port can be used to route stereo signals in an unadulterated digital format to a home theater system.
With this series, you'll get three 1080p-ready HDMI inputs supporting the 24p mode and Aquos Link. The 24p mode enables 24 frames-per-second video playback, mirroring the original film speed mastered for Blu-ray discs and ensuring optimum movie reproduction. As for the Aquos Link, it allows the TV controller to interoperate selected Sharp A/V products like a universal remote for tasks ranging from one-touch video recording to corresponding playback control. Sadly, the component-video and PC inputs have a resolution bottleneck of up to 1080i and 1,360 x 768, respectively.
Key specifications
| Model | LC-32A66M | LC-37A66M | LC-42A66M | LC-46A66M |
| Screen size | 32-inch | 37-inch | 42-inch | 46-inch |
| Resolution | 1,920 x 1,080 | |||
| Contrast (dynamic) | 50,000:1 | |||
| No. of HDMI inputs | 3 | |||
| Multimedia playback | N.A. | |||
Quick summary
This is the Aquos to get for performance-minded consumers who are particular the picture quality from Blu-ray movies and 1080p gaming consoles.A77-series LCD TVs
In many ways, the A77-series is like a clone of the A66-series with almost identical specifications. For a slight premium, you'll get a 100Hz refresh rate, which should bump up motion fluidity by a notch. Sharp's 100Hz Fine Motion Advanced engine suppresses motion blurring by doubling and interpolating standard picture frames, ideal for reproducing sports programs and action flicks. Another nice touch is the out-of-the-box Deep Color compliancy for the A77's HDMI terminals. This increases data bandwidth to accurately relay the extra hues recorded on the latest HD camcorders.
On the aesthetics front, the A77s has the most eye-catching design among the 2009 entries, thanks to its classy piano black bezel garnished with a contrasting golden glow. This is complemented by a unique reef-shaped stand that offers a handy swiveling function. Unlike their lower-end siblings, these panels are truly living room-oriented centerpieces and are available from 42 to 52 inches.
Key specifications
| Model | LC-42A77M | LC-46A77M | LC-52A77M |
| Screen size | 42-inch | 46-inch | 52-inch |
| Resolution | 1,920 x 1,080 | ||
| Contrast (dynamic) | 50,000:1 | ||
| No. of HDMI inputs | 3 | ||
| Multimedia playback | N.A. | ||
Quick summary
The A77-series is Sharp's flagship conventional LCD TV line with a high 100Hz refresh rate to reproduce fast motion sports and action-packed movies.XS-series LED TV
The LC-65XS1M is the Japanese company's first foray into the LED TV market. While this 65-incher is an LCD TV, it employs tiny light-emitting diodes (LED) instead of the traditional lamp-based backlighting. Sharp's implementation has two more unique propositions. The system is based on red, green and blue bulbs that are independently controlled to deliver an expanded color space exceeding 150 percent of the NTSC video standard. This is supplemented by an Area Active function (local dimming) that can selectively illuminate clusters of pixels for deeper blacks and an ultra-high 1 million:1 dynamic contrast.
The entire ensemble is made up of three main components: A sleek 60.4mm-wide panel, an external A/V media box , and a detachable bottom speaker. The latter has an onboard subwoofer and a beefy combined audio power of 30W. Additionally, the panel has a USB input for multimedia playback, though it's pity only JPEG files are supported. Other standard niceties include a motion-centric 100Hz refresh rate and digital optical audio output. Lastly, this model has x.v.Color compatibility that guarantees 1.8 times more reproducible primary colors covered by the regular (sRGB) standard.
Key specifications
| Model | LC-65XS1M |
| Screen size | 65-inch |
| Resolution | 1,920 x 1,080 |
| Contrast (dynamic) | 1,000,000:1 |
| No. of HDMI inputs | 3 |
| Multimedia playback | JPEG via USB |
Quick summary
The top-of-the-line LC-65XS1M has the best visuals in Sharp's entire HDTV lineup, but is priced only for well-heeled users.
About the author
Philip Wong is an A/V, PC, photography and gaming enthusiast. Besides spending countless days and late nights fiddling with his home theater system and watercooled PC, he also hits the roads frequently on his iron horse to sweat it out. Now, who says geeks don't work out?
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