Make: Samsung Model: LE40R87BD Fault : Power on /off switch flashing, no startup On the above firstly change capacitors: CM853 2200uf And the other 2200uf sorry forgot number but sits next to the above CM876 CM880 CM850 all these 1000uf Caps Also replace IC1803 Eprom this is found on the corner underside PCB of the control board the control board is the board you plug all your inputs into you understand. Part Number for Eprom ATMLH840 J Williams Engineer to the stars www.jvsvisual.com

Invasion

them, it seems.
Theres been no better time to buy an LCD TV. John Archer explains why, examines each screen size and gives you 20 HD tellies to choose from.
n terms of sales, LCD is head and shoulders above plasma as a atscreen television technology. The jury is still out on their comparative picture qualities, but theres little doubt that the bean counters and sales reps favour Liquid Crystal Display TVs. And so does the general public we cant get enough of Primarily, this is because prices have
plummeted an HD Ready screen can be bought for less than 600 nowadays. But other factors are even more, in an AV sense, more tantalising. The technology has improved somewhat, and even its trademark dodgy blacks are creeping further towards the deeper end. And innovations in picture processing have started to eliminate other caveats, such as motion blur and edge noise. In short, theres been no better time to seriously consider an LCD TV. So, to help you make sense of the mass-market mineeld that is a TV showroom, heres 20 top-rated HD TVs, some new, some favourites, that HCC recommends. Weve even split them up into each popular screen size so you can focus on the ones that suit you best. But if youd rather wait for the technology to mature further, we even supply some insight on whats likely to happen later on in the great LCD invasion.

JUNE 2006

HOME CINEMA CHOICE 49

HCC148.lcd 49

11/9/07 17:58:35

Grouptest. 32in LCDs

PHILIPS 32PFL9632D
1,000 (approx) 016 www.philips.co.uk Overall Rating
he arrival of the rst TV bearing Philips new
power, and slips in a few new ingredients. One of these is judder-removing HD Natural Motion, which sports ve times the processing power of Philips old and rather unconvincing Digital Natural Motion application. As part of its machinations, HD Natural motion converts 24fps signals to 48Hz for a simple, clean 2:2 pulldown process. Perfect Pixel HD also incorporates a colour booster circuit that ups saturation levels and, courtesy of 14bit processing, generates a claimed palette of four trillion colours. One nal new factor is 100Hz, which doubles the TVs standard scanning rate to reduce LCDs problems with retaining clarity with moving objects. Whats more, the 100Hz system gets an extra boost from Philips Clear LCD system, which uses a CRT-like scanning backlight to boost response times and black levels.

Perfect Pixel HD Engine

technology, the 32PFL9632D, has got me excited and disappointed all at the same time. Excited because I cant wait to see how Perfect Pixel improves on Philips already impressive Pixel Plus 3 HD system. Disappointed because of the TVs 32in size will it really be possible to appreciate everything Perfect Pixel Engine is bringing to the party on such a relatively diminutive screen? Lets start with a thumbs up to its aggressively glamorous design, which combines a gloss anthracite colour scheme, shiny silver trim and glass-covered pedestal stand to classic boys toy effect. And thats before Ive even mentioned its stereo Ambilight talents, whereby soothing, immersive pools of light spill from its left and right sides. Gimmick? Yes. Good? Oh yes.

Performance

The opening space battle in Star Wars: The Revenge of the Sith quickly shows that Perfect Pixel HD is a substantial advance on even Pixel Plus 3. Particularly gratifying is the 100Hz/Clear LCD combination, which helps motion look sharper, clearer and smoother without any signicant signs of the glitching and strangely processed look that characterise some rival systems, and Philips old Digital Natural Motion system. Fine detail levels are nothing short of mesmerising and thats not something I can often say about a 32in TV. Heaven only knows how strong Perfect Pixel HDs impact will be on a bigger screen.

SPECIFICATIONS

ITEM HD Ready Progressive Scan Digital TV Tuner Composite video S-video Scart Component video HDMI/DVI PC input Headphone SUPPORT DETAILS Can display (non-native) 1080i NTSC and PAL formats both work Plus subscription CI slot 1 phono input 1 input 2 connections (1 RGB) 1 input 3 HDMI 1 VGA input 1 output

Connections, meanwhile, are fulsome. Three HDMIs get the ball rolling nicely especially as they all take HD formats up to and including the 1080p/24fps format found on most Blu-ray and HD DVD discs. But also eye-catching are a USB port for playback of MP3,.alb slideshow, JPEG, MPEG1 and MPEG2 les; a digital audio output; and all the paraphernalia associated with a built-in digital tuner. Theres no D-Sub PC port, but the HDMIs can do PC duties. And so I come to the Perfect Pixel HD Engine. This takes the basic building blocks of Pixel Plus 3 HD, such as advanced noise reduction, detail enhancement and colour improvements, yet ups the processing
Sound: Nicam Stereo (2 x 8W) Resolution: 1366 x 768 Brightness: 550cd/m2 (claimed); Contrast: 8000:1 (claimed) Dimensions: 829(w) x 543(h) x 125(d)mm; Weight: 18.2kg Also featuring Perfect Pixel HD processing; HD Natural Motion processing, Dynamic contrast; 1080p/50/60/24/25/30Hz compatibility; 3/2 and 2/2 pulldown; 100Hz Clear LCD, USB port with JPEG, MP3, slideshow
Scart and component inputs are present, as well as the twin HDMIs NOVEMBER 2007

50 HOME CINEMA CHOICE

HCC148.lcd 50

11/9/07 17:58:58

Tried&Tested.
.AND THE BEST OF THE REST
Also extremely impressive is the sets colour handling. It delivers remarkably natural skin tones for an LCD panel, while producing blend subtleties to rival full HD screens, even though the screens native resolution is actually only 1366 x 768. Wrapping up the picture talents is an impressive black level response, which helps to generate a sense of scale to the shots of outer space during our Revenge of the Sith battle sequence. In a perfect world the black level would be deeper still, and theres denitely room for improvement when it comes to viewing angles, as the contrast drops off dramatically if you sit too far to the side. Finally in the negative column, you might need to turn all the motion processing off during fast sports footage, as I detected occasional ghosting over, say, a speeding cricket ball.

Samsung LE-32R87BD

550 (approx) 0303 www.samsung.co.uk

Overall Rating

Its a testament to just how good Samsungs R87 range is especially given its knock-down price that members of it appear in three of our four size groups in this LCD supertest. The thing that makes the 32R87, and its siblings, so special is the superb balance it treads between good picture quality, superb design, great connectivity, reams of features and, above all, price. If theres another LCD TV on the market offering such great value, we aint seen it.

Panasonic 32LXD70

800 (approx) 357 www.panasonic.co.uk

Overall

Rating
Although our unashamed obsession with bigger screen sizes has meant we havent actually reviewed this TV in the pages of HCC yet, rest assured weve spent plenty of quality time with it and generally love it to pieces. Like our Philips favourite, the 32LXD70 uses 100Hz to clean up motion, and while this isnt quite as potent as Philips effort, its still a very worthwhile attempt. And it marries it with one of the crispest pictures in the business with standard- and high-denition alike.

Conclusion

But these are really quite small dents in the armour of a 32in TV that uses bleedingedge tech to overcome almost entirely LCDs traditional problems with motion a talent which makes it our favourite 32in at TV ever. And of course, if the impact of Perfect Pixel HD can be so high on a TV this small, its potential with bigger screens is simply mind-boggling

Excellent

Hitachi 32LD9700

750 (approx) 000

www.hitachidigitalmedia.com Overall Rating
This Hitachi model employs IPS Alpha LCD panel design thats claimed to

LAB REPORT

Colour Black Level Contrast Resolution

Average

radically improve the TVs viewing angle, contrast and motion response time. And were happy to say that it delivers to some extent on all of these claims. The picture is very dynamic, with exceptionally vivid colours and an unusually high brightness output, plus you get oodles of ne detail in HD pictures. In fact, with some slightly deeper black levels and better audio this TV would have taken some beating to the top spot.

Sony KDL-32V2500

www.sony.co.uk Overall Rating As we wait and wait and wait for Sony to get its ruddy nger out and deliver the long-awaited all-new range of Bravias, the aging but still really rather good 32V2500 can now be found at knock-down prices on account of its relative vintage. The V2500 models are Sonys step-up Bravias, and as such deliver such treats as a wide colour gamut system and a dynamic contrast arrangement for better blacks, resulting in pictures that still stand up today at least at the sort of price point you can now nd them at.
A CI slot means owners can enjoy pay-per-view Freeview upgrades NOVEMBER 2007

HOME CINEMA CHOICE 51

HCC148.lcd 51

11/9/07 17:59:03

Grouptest. 37in LCDs

TOSHIBA 37X3030

800 (approx) 424 www.toshiba.co.uk Overall Rating
because weve got more money than sense or anything (sadly that couldnt be further from the truth) its just that our love of AV is such that we nd ourselves reluctant to compromise on performance standards to save a few bob. But for our current favourite 37in LCD TV, were happy to make an exception. For the compromises demanded by Toshibas 37X3030 are actually way, way smaller than wed have thought possible given its puny 800 price tag. Take, for starters, its build quality. Its robust, impressively glossy, and quite stylish far from the plasticky grey nastiness you often see at this price level. In terms of connections, the 37X3030s highlights are two HDMIs, a D-Sub VGA

sually at Home Cinema Choice we arent particularly bothered about how much things cost. Not

port, a digital

contrast ratio, which at 3500:1 is every bit as high as that promised by many screens costing way more. Naturally this contrast ratio gure comes with a rider, in that its only achievable with the help of a dynamic backlight system that reduces the pictures brightness when dark scenes are detected, in order to make black
ITEM HD Ready Progressive Scan Digital TV Tuner Composite video S-video Scart Component video HDMI/DVI PC input Headphone SUPPORT DETAILS 720p, 1080i and 1080p (inc 24fps) 480p, 720p and 1080p With 7-day EPG 1 phono input Not here 2 connections (1 RGB) 1 input 2 HDMI 1 D-Sub connection 1 output
audio output for shipping out multichannel audio tracks received via the HDMIs, and a subwoofer line out for attaching an optional low-frequency speaker. All good stuff for the money. Arguably the single biggest attraction of the 37X3030, though, is its full HD pixel count. Normally youd struggle to nd a decent 1366 x 768 37in TV for 800, yet the 37X3030 has all 1920 x 1080 pixels necessary to show without scaling down the 1080-line sources which make up practically all of the UKs HD material. Whats more, the sets HDMIs can take 1080p inputs, including the pure 24fps format that most lms are encoded in on Blu-ray and HD DVD discs. The good times continue to roll with the 37X3030s claimed
Sound: Nicam Stereo (2x10W) Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Brightness: 500cd/m2 (claimed); Contrast: 3500:1 (claimed) Dimensions: 920(w) x 614(h) x 122(d)mm; Weight: 21.1kg Also featuring Active Vision LCD processing, 24fps support, Exact scan mode, MPEG noise reduction, Digital noise reduction, 3D digital comb filter, 20W audio output, Bass boost
Two Scarts and a component input: two HDMIs are lurking nearby NOVEMBER 2007

52 HOME CINEMA CHOICE

HCC148.lcd 52

11/9/07 17:59:10

levels look deeper. But while this brightnessreducing arrangement might count as a disadvantage of the 37X3030 versus plasma TVs, similar arrangements are also used by practically every other LCD set. Theres only one disappointing element in the 37X3030s specications, and thats the lack of the solid 100Hz engine that helped motion look clearer on some previous Toshiba sets.

Samsung LE-37R87BD

700 (approx) 0303 www.samsung.co.uk
This terric Samsung contender, and another member of the R87 fraternity, may lack the Full HD resolution of our Toshiba champ, but it does its hardest to compensate. Connectivity is excellent, with three HDMIs making it suitably future-proofed. There is also picture processing galore, some of the best black levels yet seen from an LCD TV and the gorgeous Samsung design. Oh, and a price even lower than the Toshs.

In action, the 37X3030 hugely outperforms its price point. For instance, despite only being 37in across, the TV enjoys clearly visible benets with HD courtesy of its Full HD native resolution. Colour blends, for instance, are unusually smooth thanks to the screens high pixel density. Plus the scintillating levels of ne detail on show in the card-playing scenes during the Blu-ray of Casino Royale are delivered with true Full HD aplomb, and without a trace of noise (provided you use the 1:1 pixel mode). More general strengths nd the picture looking bright and intensely coloured, with natural colour tones especially during bright scenes. Motion is handled adequately, losing surprisingly little resolution for a set without any 100Hz system. Finally, the Tosh handles the upscaling of standard-def sources to its Full HD pixel count with refreshing credibility. Black level, though, does fall short of the best LCDs, causing some greyness over dark scenes.

Philips 37PF9731D

1,900 (approx) 016 www.philips.co.uk Overall Rating Costing over twice as much as the Toshiba 37X3030, its just as well that this Philips model has an amazing amount to offer. The most immediate attraction is Ambilight Surround, which spills coloured light from the TVs four sides to make the viewing experience more immersive and relaxing. But also key are its Full HD resolution; memory card slot/two USB ports/ Ethernet jack for multimedia playback; a ClearLCD scanning backlight systes; and Philips Pixel Plus 3 HD processing.

Sharp LC37XD1E

1,100 (approx) 5051
www.sharp.co.uk Overall Rating
This 37incher from Sharp offers 1080p support and bags of features. Whats more, its performance is subjectively as good as that of the Toshiba 37X3030, meaning the Sharp only missed out on bagging our favourite 37in LCD TV title on account of its 300-higher price tag. So its denitely one to look out for a discount on.
The bottom line here is that despite its slight black level shortcomings, the Toshiba 37X3030 is a cracking entry-level in to the joys of Full HD. And for that we are truly thankful.

Loewe Modus L 37

027 6465

www.loewe-uk.com Overall

Weve thrown this one in for the fashion acianados among you. For although its performance is certainly good, its not good enough in itself to justify the 1,700 price tag. The key is that in true Loewe style the Modus L 37 is a seriously pretty thing, available in platinum or Anthracite nishes, and with the option of being mounted on a truly sumptuous silver pole oor stand. Hubba.

Long, thin, and simple to use. Yep, its a Toshiba remote NOVEMBER 2007 HOME CINEMA CHOICE 53

HCC148.lcd 53

11/9/07 17:59:13

Grouptest. 40/42in LCDs

SHARP LC-42XD1E
1,300 (approx) 5051 www.sharp.co.uk Overall Rating
f you ask me, its only when you get to the 40-42in screen sizes that things really get interesting in the TV world. Not just because this is the sort of size where a TV starts to turn into a home cinema centrepiece, but also because this is the level where brands start to go the extra mile with cool features and harsh price competition. So Sharp can justly feel very pleased with itself for bagging the honour of being our favourite 40-42in LCD TV. Even if the honour isnt down to performance skills alone, owing a small debt to the old value thing The 42XD1Es push for the top starts right away, with some real pretty-boy looks. But then it stumbles a touch with its connections, as there isnt a dedicated component video
42incher. And, happily, its HD friendliness is ably supported by 1080p compatibility via the HDMIs and a pixel-for-pixel mode (called Underscan in the TVs menus) that removes nasty overscan processing during HD viewing. Two other noteworthy features are a dynamic contrast system that reduces the output of the backlight during dark scenes to up black levels, and Sharps truD image processing, designed to improve motion judder, contrast and sharpness.
Clearly there are TVs with more formidable specications than the 42XD1E. But what I like so much about this Sharp is the way it makes the most of what its got to deliver a scintillating Full HD performance that doesnt break the bank. Check out for starters the ne detail the set portrays. The pixel-perfect rendition of Casino Royale on Blu-ray contains countless dazzlingly detailed and textured scenes, such as the shots of Bond in the grounds of his recuperation hospital and the 42XD1E portrays every one with the sort of precision that only a large 1920 x 1080 display can muster. In fact, with Sharps image processing seemingly more subtle than that of many rivals, the sets Full HD performance is purer than usual. The Full HD difference can also be seen in the subtle colour portrayal, as skin tones look totally believable and even the slightest of blends is delivered without striping or stepping thanks to the extra pixel density.
input. Instead you have to use an adaptor
ITEM HD Ready Progressive Scan Digital TV Tuner Composite video S-video Scart Component video HDMI/DVI PC input Headphone SUPPORT DETAILS 720p, 1080i and 1080p Compatible with 480p, 720p, 1080p With 7-day EPG 1 phono input 1 input 2 connections (x RGB) But only via VGA and adaptor 2 HDMI 1 VGA 1 output

(thankfully provided) and the PC port, meaning you cant simultaneously connect a PC and a component source like an Xbox 360. Still, you do at least get twin HDMIs for digital HD duties. Where the 42XD1E really starts to score is with its Full HD native resolution a denite surprise on such an affordable
Sound: Nicam A2/Surround Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Brightness: 450 ANSI Lumens (claimed); Contrast: 1200:1 (claimed) Dimensions: 920(w) x 600(h) x 115(d)mm; Weight: 25.1kg Also featuring PC capable, 1:1 pixel mapping; dynamic contrast enhancement; black stretch; geometry adjust, truD processing, backlight adjust, DNR
Looking for the component input? Well, there isnt one. Youll have to use the VGA input and an adaptor NOVEMBER 2007

54 HOME CINEMA CHOICE

HCC148.lcd 54

11/9/07 17:59:16

Good colours generally owe a big debt to a good black level, and so it proves here. I wouldnt say the 42XD1E delivers the deepest black level yet seen on a 40-42in LCD TV, but it gets close. Whats more, dark areas retain enough shadow detail to keep them looking natural and involving. The 42XD1E is great with HD, but its also far from a slouch with standard-denition either, which is important as SD fare is still very much a staple of the home cinema experience. Sure, theres more noise and smearing, and less colour consistency, but the overall results still outdo the standard-def performances of most Full HD rivals. Inevitably, for 1,300, Sharps 42XD1E is not perfect. It can slightly exaggerate noise that may be inherent to particularly poor quality digital or analogue broadcasts; its possible to mess pictures up if youre not very careful with the TVs settings; and just occasionally the dynamic contrast systems machinations become a touch obvious.

Samsung LE-40R87BD

800 (approx) 0303 www.samsung.co.uk Overall Rating Another LCD selection, another appearance by a member of Samsungs R87 range. In fact, this is our personal favourite of the excellent lineup, with the features, looks and picture talents to make its 800 price point look so cheap its stupid. The only thing you need to bear in mind before charging off down the shops is that the screens resolution is HD Ready rather than Full HD, and that its pictures therefore arent as accomplished as those of the Sharp.

Philips 42PF9831D

2,000 (approx) 016 www.philips.co.uk Overall Rating Time and competition have now nearly halved the Full HD 42PF9831Ds original 3500 price, making this a true high-end TV you can actually afford. What makes it high end? Well, its got Philips Clear LCD technology, Pixel Plus 3 HD image processing, and Ambilight Surround. Last but not least, theres the small matter that its pictures, at least with HD sources, are simply stunning.
As I said, though, these aws stop the 42XD1E being perfect; they dont stop it being very good, especially for its money. So if you want a great Full HD performance for relative peanuts, your buck can very happily stop here.

LG 42LF66

1,000 (approx) 5544
www.lge.co.uk Overall Rating
This is another Full HD model that grabbed our eye on account of its price.
Just 1,000 for a 42in Full HD LCD TV is frankly bonkers especially when it has some of the most vibrant colours in the at TV world. Admittedly the sets picture quality falls some way short overall of that of our Sharp winner, especially when it comes to black level. But if you never thought a 1,000 budget could extend to include a 42in 1080p LCD TV, think again.

Sony KDL-40V2500

111 999

www.sony.co.uk Overall

We tested and loved the 46in version of this TV a while back, and believe us, the 40in version is every bit as good. Sonys Bravia Engine processing works wonders on removing noise from pictures while allowing HD sources the room to breathe on their own. The feature count is healthy, too, and the picture quality is very good, even compared with many more recent TVs. Note, though, that the native resolution is 1366 x 768.
Not exactly stylish, but the Sharp remote is simple enough to use NOVEMBER 2007

HOME CINEMA CHOICE 55

HCC148.lcd 55

11/9/07 17:59:20

Grouptest. 46in+ LCDs

SAMSUNG LE46F86

1,900 (approx) 0303 www.samsung.co.uk Overall Rating
he LE46F86BD is particularly signicant because it features Samsungs debut take on the 100Hz
trend now sweeping the LCD world. Dubbed 100Hz Motion Plus, its name suggests that, as well as doubling the PAL scanning rate of the picture, theres an element of Samsungs Motion Plus frame interpolation system found with sets further down the brands current LCD range included. This isnt necessarily good news actually, as Ive frankly had my doubts about Motion Plus so far. So heres hoping the 100Hz element makes a real difference. Not that 100Hz is the 46F86BDs only claim to fame. It also looks a million dollars, and sports a Full HD resolution of
1920 x 1080, supported by a Just Scan 1:1 pixel mapping mode and three v1.3 HDMIs all able to take 1080p/24 feeds.
Theres also Samsungs DNIe system for boosting sharpness, contrast, motion handling and

sharper and smoother, they dont resolve all the background judder during camera pans. And so as General Grievous strides into the control room of his ship early on in The Revenge of the Sith, his body glides smoothly across the screen while the green lights in the background still judder slightly. But on the upside, the new smoothness and crispness with moving objects is less besmirched by processing artefacts than
ITEM HD Ready Progressive Scan Digital TV Tuner Composite video S-video Scart Component video HDMI/DVI PC input Headphone SUPPORT DETAILS Including 1080p/24 NTSC and PAL formats both work Plus subscription CI slot 1 phono input 1 input 2 connections (1 RGB) 1 input 3 HDMI 1 VGA 1 output
colour; an Edge Enhancer for crispening contours; and oodles of ne-tuning exibility in the onscreen menus, with highlights including a black level booster, gamma control, and white balance adjustment.
Setting the 46F86 to work on a few of our favourite things, one simple fact becomes immediately, blindingly obvious: the sets picture quality is really superb. Lets start with those all-important 100Hz talents. Covering the bad news rst, theyre not as potent as those of Philips 32PFL9632. While they certainly make objects moving across the screen look
Sound: Nicam stereo with SRS XT Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Brightness: 500cd/m2; Contrast: 25000:1 (claimed) Dimensions: 829(w) x 543(h) x 125(d)mm; Weight: 32.8kg Also featuring Gamma control, 100Hz Motion Plus, DNIe, wide colour compatibility, backlight, black, white balance, Edge enhancement, colour space adjust, Digital NR, PC mode, Console Game mode, PiP, Wiselink USB connection
A compact array of connections. The HDMIs are version 1.3, too NOVEMBER 2007

56 HOME CINEMA CHOICE

HCC148.lcd 56

11/9/07 17:59:24

you nd with Motion Plus alone on lesser Samsung TVs. So overall the 100Hz system produces a clear picture quality benet without adding any negatives, and you cant ask for much more than that. Other aspects of the picture are outstanding too. The brands adoption of Super Clear LCD panel technology has resulted in some of the deepest, most natural blacks yet seen on an LCD TV, and that trend continues here. They may not merit the extravagant 25000:1 contrast ratio claim that Samsung makes for the 46F86, but dark scenes like those in Barbossas cave in Pirates of the Caribbean look more natural and cinematic than on any current LCD rival. Colours are rich and vibrant too, with Star Wars light sabres exploding off the screen, and skin tones benet from pleasingly natural hues. HD animated fodder, meanwhile, looks simply sublime. HD ne detail levels are immense. You can clearly some might say alarmingly make out, for instance, every tiny ridge and pore in Uma Thurmans big feet as she tries to wiggle her big toe in Kill Bill. You do need to take care with the 46F86s picture settings. Keep the contrast to sensible levels, only choose low-level settings for the 100Hz and noise reduction systems, and avoid the edge enhancer entirely. And its only a solid performer with standard-def, leaving low-quality digital broadcasts looking rather softer.

Sharp 52XD1E

2,300 (approx) 5051 www.sharp.co.uk
This 52in version of our favourite 42in LCD set is every bit as good as its smaller brother; in fact, its black level actually seems slightly better. For a screen with only two HDMIs, its perhaps a touch overpriced, but with new panels from Sharp due in the next couple of months, you may well be able to nd this one being heavily discounted now if you look around.

Sony KDL 46X2000

2,600 (approx) 999 www.sony.co.uk Overall Rating Lets get the bad news out of the way rst. For, despite being around for almost a year now, this Sony is still rather overpriced, in our humble opinion. And its black level isnt as profound as that of more recent screens. But its Full HD resolution and Sonys superb Bravia Engine processing combine to produce arguably the crispest, cleanest HD pictures in the business.

Samsung LE52M87

2,700 (approx) 0303
www.samsung.co.uk Overall Rating
We make absolutely no apologies for putting a second Samsung screen into this section. For while the 52M87 may not have Samsungs 100Hz engine, and isnt quite so accomplished a performer as the 46F86, its still delivers amazing blacks, colour performance and detailing for such a monstrously large screen. So much so, in fact, that this would probably have become our featured TV were it not for the late arrival of its higher-specced sibling.
If youre buying a TV like this youre going to try and feed it an HD diet whenever you can. And with HD, the 46F86 is capable of rewarding you with a big-screen LCD performance truly worthy of making it HCCs favourite big-screen LCD.

LG 47LY95

1,607 5544

www.lge.co.uk Overall

Our bigging up of the 47LY95 has to start with a couple of riders. First, its standard-def performance is actually quite weak. And, second, its black level could denitely be better. But two things elevate the Full HD 47LY95 into our favourite LCD reckoning. Its cheap as chips for a 47in screen with a 1920 x 1080 resolution and its HD performance is often quite scintillating, with terric ne detailing and the richest colours ever seen on a at TV.
Pretty and reasonably organised, but the menus respond sluggishly NOVEMBER 2007

HOME CINEMA CHOICE 57

HCC148.lcd 57

11/9/07 17:59:28

LCD Invasion
.AND WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?
about what a similar feature in a year or twos time might look like. So get ready to share the rather random ndings of our ofce crystal ball. Probably the most obvious difference will concern screen size. The current 32in, 37in, 40-42in and 46in-plus categories will very likely have shifted upwards, as we strongly expect 37in or maybe even 40in screens to become the default mass market starting, point rather than 32in. As for the upper size limit, well, the sky is the limit, frankly. For instance, the friendly lady on this page is teetering

hile we were putting together this collection of our favourite LCD TVs, we got to wondering
panels, all adds up. Wed be pretty surprised if weve not had our hands on at least a couple of genuinely affordable 60in-plus models before the next 12 months are out. Another big question is how the basic LCD technology might change. And personally we suspect that the biggest difference will probably be in the way LCD TVs generate their light. The current single backlight system used by almost all LCD TVs seems to be a cause of too many fundamental problems regarding black level and motion to remain the same. In fact, the Philips 32PFL9632 in this feature has already got the ball rolling by using hot cathode uorescent lamps in a scanning
As well as boasting on-paper specs to get pulses racing, its also something of a looker
alongside a Sharp LCD measuring in at a staggering 108in. Now obviously, were not saying many of us will be having 100in-plus screens in our homes come next year. But the industrys drive to go ever bigger, plus the reducing costs of producing large LCD array to boost black level and motion. However, we suspect that LED backlighting will prove to the answer. The rst LED-backlit at TVs, such as Samsungs F9 series [pictured - bottom left], are due in the UK before Christmas, and from what weve seen they have the potential to
108in LCDs: this time next year, we might all own one. But probably not
deliver previously unimaginable black level response, smoother motion and a far richer colour palette than has been possible. The screen resolution situation will also change with most, if not all LCDs offering the a Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution. Other bits and bobs include a move towards HDMI v1.3 inputs as standard; a likely growth in multimedia connectivity such as USBs and Ethernet
ports as part of the slow but sure progression towards PC/AV convergence; increasingly advanced 100Hz-like systems; and more price erosion, at least at the large end of the market. In an ideal world we might also have been talking in a years time about a new potential rival to LCD in the shape of SED. But sadly, as with so many great ideas before, this glorious-looking at TV option now appears to have gone the way of the dodo. Boo.