COMPARISON / 32IN LCD TVS

Mid-size megatest

LCD quality keeps going up while the price heads just as fast the other way. We put ve of the best new 32in models to the test
064 / What Video & High-Denition TV / Issue 321

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THE BATTLE FOR LCD supremacy will probably be won and lost in the 32in sector. This is the size aimed squarely at those of you who want to swap that ageing CRT workhorse in the corner for something a little slinkier and more futureproofed. Every set in this group certainly ts
the latter description and, just to heap temptation upon temptation, are among the most affordable mid-sized atscreens from big-name manufacturers we have ever seen. Each is HD Ready and packs a Freeview tuner and one is right for you. Prepare to meet your next TV.

Spec check

Panasonic

TX-32LXD70

Type: Screen size & shape Tuner: Sound system: Resolution (pixels): HD ready: Quoted contrast: Quoted brightness: Processing: Dimensions: Weight: LCD 32in, 16:9 Digital Nicam stereo 1,366 x 768 Yes 8,500:1 N/A V-Real2 927(w) x 558(h) x 218(d)mm 23kg

Samsung

LE32R87BD
LCD 32in, 16:9 Digital Nicam stereo 1,366 x 768 Yes 8,000:1 450cd/m2 DNIe and Movie Plus 800(w) x 541(h) x 91(d)mm 13.1kg

KDL-32S2530

LCD 32in, 16:9 Digital Nicam stereo 1,366 x 768 Yes 5,000:1 500cd/m2 Bravia Engine 792(w) x 546(h) x 99(d)mm 17kg

Goodmans Toshiba

LD3260HDVT
LCD 32in, 16:9 Digital Nicam stereo 1,366 x 768 Yes 800:1 450cd/m2 None 927(w) x 558(h) x 218(d)mm 21kg

32C3030

LCD 32in, 16:9 Digital Nicam stereo 1,366 x 768 Yes 4,000:1 500cd/m2 Active Vision LCD 800(w) x 545(h) x 116(d)mm 15.2kg
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Verdict Approx price 900

Panasonic TX-32LXD70
BSuperb picture quality, tasteful design EBlack levels could still be better Performance PANASONICS LATEST 32IN
offering, the TX-32LXD70, makes a great rst impression thanks to its tasteful design. And things only get better as we spot two HDMI inputs, a PC input, a component video input, and a CAM slot, indicating a digital tuner. But best of all is the V-Real2 image processing /// system. This clever wizardry includes a exible automatic backlight that adjusts its output in response to the brightness of a scene; 1080p processing that can either handle native 1080p sources or upscale lower resolutions; a new 100Hz Motion Picture Pro system designed to smooth and sharpen the screens motion handling; and a colourmanagement tool for souping up reds and blues. And nally the new In-Plane Switching Alpha LCD panel, which offers an amazingly wide viewing angle. The 32LXD70s picture quality quickly establishes itself as comfortably the best in this group test. The sharpness with HD sources, for instance, is terric, portraying every last pixel of even the most detailed HD source with pixel-perfect authority and without endlessly subtle palette that enables the 32LXD70 to jump between a vibrant bright scene and a subdued, muted one with both looking equally credible a surprisingly rare talent in the LCD world. Thumbs up, too, to the 32LXD70s 100Hz system, which helps the screen show motion with really quite exceptional clarity and also to the sets viewing angle, which stops the picture from losing any signicant contrast or colour even if you choose to watch it from a really quite extreme angle. With some reasonably potent sound rounding the AV experience out nicely, the only negative thing we could perhaps say is that good though they are, we feel the black levels in the 32LXD70 could still be improved further next time round Z
The 32LXD70s picture quality quickly establishes itself as comfortably the best in this group test///

a trace of video noise. Whats more, the V-Real2 processing also works serious magic on the detail levels of standard-denition sources. The 32LXD70s black levels are also impressive by LCD standards, achieving unusual depths without sacricing the sort of shadow detailing that gives dark scenes life. These ne black levels are joined by a superbly vivid but also
Picture Sound Features Ease of use Value
Panasonic proves that its every bit as talented with LCD technology as it is with plasma with this mid-sized set that boasts superb all-round picture performance
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Verdict Approx price 700

Samsung LE32R87BD
BGreat price, good pictures, three HDMIs ESlightly feeble sound, motion handling issues
WITH ITS GLOSS black surround, slender bezel and cute curves, Samsungs LE32R87BD is as pretty as TVs get. And for 700 it also comes with a pretty good spec. Leading these likeable specs out are a rather wonderful three HDMIs, meaning you can simultaneously attach, say, a SkyHD receiver, a PS3 games console and an upscaling DVD player. Result. Its not just their number that makes the HDMIs special; theyre also among the rst compatible with the CEC industry standard, permitting cross control of other connected, CEC-enabled devices. Other notable connections include component video input, a PC port, a CAM slot that reveals the presence of a digital tuner, and an optical audio output, which can forward on digital multichannel audio information received through any one of the HDMIs. The pictures on the 1,366 x 768 panel are driven by a number of Samsung innovations, including the companys Digital Natural Image engine (DNIe) processing, for boosting colours, black levels, detailing and motion handling, and a Movie Plus mode that adds extra frames of image data to tackle LCDs traditional problems with resolution loss over motion. and detailed as, in fact, do similarly static standard-denition images thanks to the DNIe system. We have to keep stressing the word static when talking about sharp images, however, since in scenes where theres a lot of motion the Samsungs picture does tend to lose a little resolution. The Movie Plus system manages to improve this slightly, but only at the expense of some shimmering noise around the edges of moving objects. So basically, what were saying is theres no way of getting motion as awless as wed like. Also counting against the 32R87 is a slightly limited viewing angle, and speakers that cant quite open up to meet the demands of a meaty lm soundtrack, even though theyre certainly adequate for ordinary TV viewing Z

Performance

The LE32R87BDs picture quality is good by any LCD standards, and its fantastic for 700. Black levels, in particular, are a marked improvement over anything Samsung has managed before at this size, with dark scenes bottoming out into grey less readily than before, and shadowy corners enjoying more subtle detailing and scale. Samsungs traditional colour prowess not only continues with the 32R87, but is actually enhanced thanks to this TVs use of a Wide Colour Gamut backlight arrangement that increases the colour spectrum range the TV can reproduce. The result is a vibrancy and tonal breadth that few rival brands can match. Reasonably static HD images, meanwhile, look impressively crisp

Not perfect, but even added together, our various niggles dont stop it representing hellish good value if you cant nd the extra 200 needed for the Panasonic
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Sony KDL-32S2530

BGood all-round performance, tasteful looks EColours could be better, slight motion blur
THE CONCEPT BEHIND the KDL-32S2530 seems simple: its out to remedy some of the failings of Sonys original S2000 Bravia LCD TVs, introducing a trio of signicant improvements. First, the HDMI count doubles to two. Second, black levels should benet considerably from a Dynamic Contrast feature that adjusts the backlight output in response to a scenes brightness. Sonys own gures reckon the 32S2530s contrast ratio is 5,000:1 versus 1,300:1 for the original S Series models. Last, and probably least, is the new inclusion of Sonys Live Colour Creation processing. This uses algorithms to improve green and red hues, and overall colour toning. Other tricks that continue from the original S Series include component video, PC and digital tuner; Sonys SPVA technology allowing for a wider viewing angle than is common in the LCD world; and Sonys Bravia Engine video processing system for boosting colours, black levels, ne detailing, and noise reduction.
The changes made for the 32S2530 certainly improve picture quality but not by quite enough.
Sonys changes certainly improve picture quality but not enough to make the set truly outstanding
Black levels are transformed, achieving both greater depth and so more shadow detailing subtlety. Theres a touch of new instability in dark areas as the dynamic contrast function does its thing, but the benets far outweigh the negatives. Advantages introduced by the Live Colour Creation system are considerably less obvious, with little discernible difference between the
colours of S Series models new and old. But thats not the end of the world given how vibrant colours were on the original S Series. Sonys knack for showing HD pictures with phenomenal sharpness continues. Indeed, we can think of no brand bar, possibly, Philips that delivers sharper HD pictures. Our problems with the 32S2530s pictures are twofold. First, although rich, colours can sometimes look a touch unnatural, especially where skin tones during dark scenes are concerned. Second, the picture can get slightly soft when theres lots of motion to handle, especially when watching standard-denition signals. Sonically the 32S2530 is very respectable, combining good power with one of the better frequency ranges in this group test Z

While we applaud Sonys commitment to righting some of the failings of its original S Series models, this still feels like something of a stop-gap
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Verdict Approx price 450

Goodmans LD3260HDVT
BCheap, easy to use, fair performance EBit ugly, poor viewing angle, only one HDMI
YOUD THINK THE current downward spiral in LCD prices would present a problem for the dedicated budget brands. But Goodmans, at least, is managing to keep one price-cutting step ahead of the chasing pack, ogging its latest 32in LCD TV the LD3260HDVT for a mere 450 of your British pounds. Unsurprisingly, this sort of money doesnt get you any great design ourishes or more than one HDMI input. But youre reasonably well catered for elsewhere, with a component video input, a PC input, the usual Scarts, and a CAM slot that alerts us to the presence of a built-in digital tuner. Fancy features are pretty much limited to a Film mode and a noise reduction system. Needless to say, 1080p HD compatibility is not on the menu its 720p and 1080i only. But does it at least manage to out-perform its puny price point? Well, actually, yes it does. Its pictures are richly coloured and eye-catchingly bright, for starters, avoiding the dullness seen on many other cheapo LCD efforts. Whats more, theres a surprising degree of colour subtlety to accompany the vibrancy, which helps the image look more threedimensional and involving. High-denition sources also look decently sharp and detailed by cheap LCD standards especially as the LD3260HDVT holds on to slightly more resolution over moving objects than many of its cut-price rivals. If theres one area that almost always catches budget LCD TVs out, its black levels. Yet here again the Goodmans outperforms our expectations with black levels at least free enough of the dreaded grey mist effect to allow some sense of scale during dark scenes. All the same, theres no denying that while the LD3260HDVTs dark scenes may do well by budget standards, they do, however, look rather hollow and forced when compared to those of the other sets weve looked at in this group test. And so now the inevitable moaning has begun, while HD pictures look decently sharp, they certainly dont look as pristine and clean as they do on some of the other costlier contenders. Standard-denition sources can sometimes look noisy too; the sets viewing angle is severely limited if you have to sit reasonably close to the screen; and nally, while the LD3260HDVT has more than enough audio oomph to handle your average daytime TV fare, it suffers a marked lack of bass while watching a typical action movie Z

Obviously, at this price the LD3260HDVT is hardly going to set any new performance standards.
Far from perfect, but when you factor in its low, low price, it really stands out as one of the better budget options around making it well worth a look
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Toshiba 32C3030

BGood price, bright colours, good connectivity EBlack level and viewing angle issues
THE 32C3030 LOOKS really quite snappy in its skinny black nish. And it hits all the right connectivity notes courtesy of two HDMIs (both, capable of receiving 1080p), a component video input, PC support, digital tuner support, a subwoofer line out, and a digital audio output for passing on multichannel audio streams received via the HDMIs. Its great, too, /// to nd Toshibas Active Vision LCD processing system on this entry-level model, which sets out to improve the pictures black levels, motion handling, colours and detailing. In terms of key specications, the screen sports the inevitable (for this money, at least) 1,366 x 768-pixel resolution, and contrast is quoted at an impressive-looking 4,000:1, achieved via a dynamic contrast system that adjusts the backlight output depending on the brightness of the particular scene thats being shown. Other noteworthy features within the 32C3030s rather long-winded onscreen menus include MPEG noise reduction for cleaning up messy digital broadcasts, unusually exible colour ne-tuning, and an option to switch the colour balance to suit PC rather than video sources. found on rival models making its machinations a touch too obvious. Our other concern is its rather narrow viewing angle, as watching from even as little as 30-40 off axis, if you happen to be sitting anywhere near the screen, results in fairly drastic loss of colour and contrast. That said HD sources look crisp and detailed, colours are vibrant and generally very naturally toned. And we have to admit motion doesnt lose as much resolution as we might expect. Audio is decent enough for general TV viewing purposes, but if you want it to also be a keen movie machine, a fairly fundamental lack of bass from the built-in speakers will probably require you to use the sets subwoofer output sooner rather than later Z
Dark scenes look noticeably greyed over, and rather hollow thanks to a lack of greyscale subtlety///
In action, the 32C3030 is slightly disappointing, for two reasons. The worst of these is its black levels. Dark scenes look noticeably greyed over, and rather hollow thanks to a lack of greyscale subtlety. The automatic backlight adjustment seem less rened than systems
A solid enough stab by Toshiba at hitting an entry-level price point, but it looks a little tame when set against the same-price Samsung LE32R87BD

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conclusion

AS WE SEEM to say every time we do a big-screen LCD group test these days, the single most striking feature of this one is the price erosion it shows. Amazingly all ve of the 32in TVs weve included come in at comfortably under 1,000, even though they include models from such big-name brands as Sony, Panasonic, Toshiba and Samsung. In fact, so fast are these big brands slashing their prices that were surprised Goodmans can still retain its traditional pricing edge. But the fact that it can, while still delivering some solid quality can only be a good thing for us punters! Also good for us punters is how impressive the picture quality is for your money. Basically the overall picture standards around seem to be improving nearly as fast as prices are dropping, and you cant really ask for much more than that. Putting our ve contenders into some sort of pecking order, we rather harshly have no choice but to put the Toshiba 32C3030 in last place. This is by no means a bad TV for the money, but the sheer quality of the Sony, Samsung and Panasonic rivals plus the amazing price of the Goodmans are just too good to be ignored. In fourth place weve put the Goodmans. This is inevitably no great performance superstar, but its also far from the nightmare you might expect for a 450 32in LCD TV, making it a great temptation to anyone on a tight budget who thought 26in was as big as they were likely to get for their money. Third spot belongs to the Sony KDL-32S2530. This certainly improves on Sonys original S Series models, and with HD footage can deliver some quite sensational picture quality. But one or two colour issues and those nasty motion handling problems make its 900 asking price look like its 100 or so too expensive. In second position, then, theres Samsungs 32R87BD. This stunning looking set isnt a perfect performer, but in typical Samsung fashion it delivers a brilliantly calculated balance between price, performance standards, genuinely useful features and looks to create as good an all-round package as weve seen in a while. For all the Samsungs instant appeal, though, we couldnt resist putting Panasonics 32LXD70 at the top of the tree. Why? Well, because ultimately TVs are all about picture quality, and the simple fact is that the picture quality achieved by the 32LXD70 is clearly superior to that of any of its rivals in this test Z

/ Time in Lab: 10 days

Playback Test: Colour temperature: Contrast ratio: Luminance: Colour: Frequency response: Contact:

Reading 6,700K 820:1 95

LD-32S2530
Reading 6,700K 5,000:1 108

Goodmans

Reading 7,500K 865:1 93

Toshiba

Reading 7,600K 565:1 98

Reading 6,400K 710:1 81

www.panasonic.co.uk

www.samsung.co.uk

999 www.sony.co.uk

425 www.comet.co.uk

www.toshiba.co.uk

Verdict

Picture Sound Features Ease of use Value OVERALL
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ON TEST / 32IN LCD PANEL

The rivals

/ Panasonic TX-32LXD70
Similarly priced and with an arguably better picture, but nowhere near as slender. Reviewed: Issue 321

/ Sony KDL-32V2500

Marginally cheaper and with a superb picture, but again, much chunkier. Reviewed: Issue 322
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Verdict Approx price 975

Hitachi

UT32MH40U

An ultra thin display plus a lovely picture equals hi-def heaven
BStunning looks; fabulous colours; a pleasure to use E Ordinary black levels; no tuner
STAND BACK AND be amazed: this Hitachi LCD has just put the at right back into atscreen. At just 35mm deep, this blade-thin screen is the sveltest of its type that we have ever seen, let alone got our mitts on to test. It has the sort of prole previously thought to be the preserve of OLED technology and even then, only ever seen on smaller, concept sets at trade shows. The UT32MH40U is available now, though: after having apparently beamed into Hitachi dealerships from the future in some sort of fortunate space/time mix-up that is sure to leave the companys rivals choking on their own disbelief. p
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ON TEST / 32IN LCD PANEL Ultra Thin
Hitachis last LCD was as deep as the next mans, so how did the company make the jump to the super-slim set we see here? By making the liquid crystal layers more compact, replacing components with chips, slimming the power unit and re-designing the ventilation system, of course. Expect a ood of rivals starting from next month, when we look at JVCs offering, which has an integral tuner.
even easier to control than previous models, as theres no real set-up procedure to speak of.

Fact le

/ 32in LCD TV / 1,366 x 768 pixels / Ultra Thin IPS Alpha panel / Picture Master HD / 360 styling

Picture

Anyone convinced that at least some of Hitachis excellent picture hard- or software must have been sacriced for that astonishingly svelte prole can consider themselves well and truly mistaken, because this sets a belter. The best thing about it, by far, is its colour reproduction, which must rank among the very best weve seen from an LCD display, let alone one that isnt much deeper than a mirror. The hues it coaxes from our standard-def test disc of Ghost Rider takes that normally unconvincing lm to a new dimension, while the fecund greens and browns of the jungle sequences in Blood Diamond are so steamily credible that you can almost feel the humidity. This is allied to an awesomely exacting resolution that is able to pick out everything in shot with absolute clarity, while never straying into the over-processed sheen that can undermine less gifted sets. On the minus side, blacks are a bit weedy and rather uniform, while motion can occasionally judder, but the plasma-like appeal of the colour performance is such that youll be won over nonetheless.
/ Time in Lab: 12 days / Serial No: 08Y0011 814mm 35mm
Because make no mistake, this thing is gorgeous. Designed around the ostensibly preposterous notion that people want tellies in the middle of their rooms, Hitachi has set about creating a set that is not only impossibly slight, but also looks as good from the back as from the front. Whatever you might think of that idea, its a 360 stunner.

Features

Its tempting to conclude that it must be features that bulk out conventional screens, because this set barely has any. The most glaring omission is a digital television tuner, the lack of which connes the Hitachi to the now strangely anachronistic-sounding job description of display rather than TV. This harks back to the days when anything at was a panel and anyone who had one was a videophile with a cellar dedicated to home cinema. TV fans neednt fret too much, though: Hitachi will be bringing out a dedicated digital tuner box in October. The economical approach is reected in the socket roster and remote control which, respectively, have three inputs (HDMI, an RGB computer port and a stereo audio minijack) and 14 buttons between them. The latter is a real throwback, with large rubbery buttons and a sparse, Fisher-Price-type aesthetic that seems peculiarly incongruous when set against the achingly futuristic slither of a screen its supposed to control.
Playback Test Colour temperature Contrast ratio Luminance Colour Frequency response

Rating 6,475K 235:1 47.6

Power consumption: Standby: 1W In use: 98W Lab notes: Minor adjustments to the factory settings deliver nigh on perfect results

Spec check

Screen size and shape: 32in, 16:9 Tuner: None Sound system: Nicam Resolution (pixels): 1,366 x 768 HD Ready: Yes Quoted contrast ratio: 10,000:1 Quoted brightness: 500cd/m Processing: Picture Master HD Dimensions (without stand): 814(w) x 538(h) x 35(d)mm Weight: 10.9kg / Other features IPS Alpha panel; 0.51 x 0.51 pixel pitch; TruBass audio; 6W speakers; digital amp / Sockets: Inputs: HDMI; PC VGA; service port. Output: stereo minijack / Contact www.hitachidigitalmedia.com

Sound

One of the chief problems most atscreens have with audio derives from the fact that they lack a big, boomy cabinet to give the sound that little bit of extra wallop, so it comes as no huge surprise that the Ultra Thin is a trie weak in this department. That it produces anything even approaching a convincing soundstage from its apparently non-existent drivers is a minor miracle, though, and the performance just about makes up in detail and delity what it lacks in low-end thump and welly.

Ease of use

The UT32MH40U is blessed with the same Hitachi operating system that has graced so many successful sets over the past year or two. The neat, unashy menu system strikes a pleasing balance between intuitive simplicity and tweak-tastic exibility. If anything, the lack of features and correspondingly stripped-down zapper make this set

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Value

There is no doubt at all that this is a special screen. It looks like nothing youve ever seen and yet still manages to out-perform most of its fuller-bodied rivals for a price that, under the circumstances, seems entirely reasonable. The only question regarding this remarkably skinny, yet accomplished TV that remains to be answered is, how on earth did they do it?Z
Wonderful to look at and with the most natural pictures liquid crystal can offer, Hitachis Ultra Thin display is a minor miracle

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