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GROUP TEST

Sharp LC-37AD1E
harp has wowed most people with its LCD displays, fittingly, thanks to the unbeatable sharpness of the picture quality. It has also produced a 37in LCD screen in the past, albeit without the digital television compatibility included on this model. Therefore expectations are rightly high for this particular stunner which boasts a sleek air of superiority before start-up. While providing a product that is technically classed as an integrated digital television (iDTV), all processing is done by a separate media box, which also serves the purpose of handling every other connection. It may well be another piece of kit to stash away, but it leaves only a couple of leads going into the screen itself. It also allows more inputs to be carried with two RGB sockets allowing both in and output sitting alongside component and PC connections. The package is let down by the omission of a DVI input for digital video , meaning that the best you can feed it is PAL progressive via component.

THE FLAT FACTS

I 37IN 16:9 LCD SCREEN I 4,500 I RESOLUTION 1,366 x 768 I DIMENSIONS W: 948 H: 784 D: 90 (mm) I SPEAKERS: YES I TV TUNER: YES I SCARTS: 3 (2 RGB)

Performance

Thats not to say that results are poor when fed a component feed. Even RGB Scart inputs shone with richly saturated colours and noiseless images. Its easy to see LCD beating plasma displays in this respect, as new models nearly eliminate the tonal stepping that so often blights plasmas. This LCD also avoids issues that affect the cheaper displays, where movement causes a lagging effect, and while present in small amounts, its barely noticeable and limited to interlaced sources from RGB Scart. Picture alterations extend as far as tweaking every colour in the spectrum, allowing true picture enthusiasts to get as close as possible to their digital desires. There are also modes that pick up on 24fps material to try and create a smoother picture from it, and noise reduction from lesser-quality sources. The only problem is the lack of options for Freeview material. As for DVD sources, progressive scan is ultimately the way to go. The incentive is the rock-solid picture the display is capable of, giving a cinematic quality that justifies some of the high price tag. The contrast ratio is backed up by stunningly crisp images, and theres no trouble at all making out whats happening in the usually difficult Underworld. This is also true of brighter scenes check out Will Smiths dark suit against the white of his underground offices in Men in Black II. If you live in a bad signal area analogue tuner images look poor when stretched across this relatively large screen. The noise extends across the majority of background images good if you have an aversion to the grimy streets of Eastenders Walford but not good for the rest of us. However, the sound output of the detachable speakers is particularly admirable; how such an inconspicuous looking unit manages to produce quite so much bass is something that Sharps clever engineers should leave under lock and key. Ultimately, this is a fantastic screen and, if you have the money and can sacrifice DVI video compatibility, Sharps LC-37AD1E should be comfortably sat at the top of your list. WP
WHAT PLASMA & LCD TV 115

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MAKE MODEL:

SPECIFICATIONS

Screen size: Resolution: Dimensions(w xh xd): Speakers: TV Tuner: Price: Tel: Web:

Philips 37PF9986

37in 1,366 x x 1,000 x 96mm Yes Yes 4,www.philips.co.uk

Loewe Spheros 37HD DR+

37in 1,366 x x 680 x 90mm Yes Yes 6,www.loewe.de
37in 1,366 x x 784 x 90mm Yes Yes 4,www.sharp.co.uk

FEATURES

Contrast ratio: Brightness ratio: Progressivescancompatible: High definition compatible: 500:1 400cd/m2 Yes Yes 500:1 450cd/m2 Yes Yes 700:1 430cd/m2 Yes Yes

CONNECTIONS

Scarts HDMI input: DVI-Dinput: D-Sub input: 3 (2 RGB) No Yes No 3 (2 RGB) No Yes Yes 3 (2 RGB) No No No

VERDICT

Picture: Sound: Looks: Features: Ease of use: Value:
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OVERALL

And the winner is. Philips 37PF9986
hoosing a winner in a group test like this is never an easy task and this month it is made all the more difficult by the fact that all three of the screens impressed us so much that we gave them all Best Buy status! While this makes the job of picking an ultimate winner even harder, it does mean that you are guaranteed an impressive performance which ever one you opt for. As all of the screens scored similarly in the What Plasma & LCD TV test lab, we have to look at the finer details and become a touch more critical to pick an overall champion of champions in the hard-fought 37in category. Looking at screens in such a way, we kept coming back to the Philips 37PF9986 as our favourite, a cause that was made even easier to throw our weight behind once we realised that it is the cheapest screen in this round up. Ultimately, the only factors that
caused us concern with this screen related to the sockets or lack of dedicated component inputs and the rather lacklustre bass performance on the audio front. These are both problems that neednt hamper the viewing process too much, thus making this our number one pick. While the more expensive Loewe Spheros is clearly a delight to look at, we found the tuner box bundled with the screen to be oversized, causing storage problems, while the operating system was unnecessarily tricky and the remote control clunky. Last and sadly, least, comes the Sharp 37AD1E which, like the other screens, has a uniquely stunning styling to it. This however did little to help the very disappointing results from analogue sources and we also felt that the digital features could have been more extensive than they actually were.
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LCD TV
Key Features 37in 16:9 LCD panel WXGA resolution (1,280 x 768 pixels) Pixel Plus 2 technology 400cd/m2 brightness 500:1 contrast ratio Ambilight NXT stereo speakers Connections Side S-video in Composite video in Stereo line in Headphone jack Back 3x Scart (3x composite video in, 2x RGB in, 1x S-video in) DVI-i (HDCP digital, analogue component video, PC in) Monitor out Stereo line out Centre line in Subwoofer out Dimensions without stand 1,125(w) x 680(h) x 95(d)mm

Reviews> >

PHILIPS 37PF9986
Can big LCD screens really overthrow plasma? Ian Calcutt bows to the majesty of Philips new 37-incher
HE LCD REVOLUTION CONTINUES WITH THIS 37IN large-screen that includes Pixel Plus 2 Philips revised image sharpening technology to scale soft pictures up into something worthy of a TV this size. Other standout features are a boosted contrast performance and Ambilight, which beams mood lighting on the wall behind the screen. The TV has a high-definition panel with an antireflective surface, a black frame to give a more defined image edge and invisible flat NXT speakers. The remote is good looking too, with a solid metal build and clean button arrangement. Inputs include three Scarts (two with RGB) and DVI for top-spec DVD players with digital video outputs. You can also use the supplied adaptors to link progressive scan-enabled players or HDTV receivers via analogue component video. Theres no built-in Freeview but there are twin analogue tuners so you can follow two channels using picture-in-picture.
Skin tone is lovingly accurate
Philips has worked hard on Pixel Plus to improve results and reduce processing artefacts. This is especially important in big pixel-dense displays, which can be unforgiving of noisy low-res pictures. However, complex scenes such as moving objects
What we like about this LCD TV State-of-the-art picture features Image quality close to CRT and plasma Ambilight is surprisingly effective What we dont like about this LCD TV Component video link requires adaptors Image quality close to CRT and plasma Ambilight is surprisingly effective
against textured backgrounds still cause Pixel Plus (and the film-orientated Movie Plus option) to stumble, leaving a rippling fringe around outlines. Moreover, you may find the Natural Motion system gives movies and other celluloid-based material an artificial digital-video-like characteristic, which is an acquired taste. Overall, though, PP2 is a startling improvement and the benefits outweigh occasional digital side effects. Basically, cleaner source signals lead to less extreme processing, especially with component video and DVI, but also with good DVDs compared to average digital TV channels. You can also leave Pixel Plus alone and use standard progressive scan as a fair alternative. However you view it, this is an exceptionally gifted screen. White tones are clean enough to feature in washing powder commercials and fine gradations are well handled. Some definition can be lost in shadowy scenes because the greyscale is slightly crunched as it approaches black, but night-time cityscapes have a vibrant neon glow, skin tone is lovingly accurate and detail is rendered superbly to the highest levels. It even keeps things sharp in moving scenes, so the liquid crystal response time is admirably fast. The 37PF9986 is more than simply a TV. Bask in Ambilights gentle aura and it becomes a stylish addition to your decor as well as a solution for eyestrain. The only letdown is the speakers, which sound scratchy and weedy at high volume. Despite the built-in subwoofer, dialogue is woolly. Overall, this TV boasts a captivating, punchy picture that gives most plasmas a run for their money. For us it looks ideal using component or RGB inputs, and while DVI is generally impressive, until we get Blu-Ray, pure digital connections can reveal DVDs limitations.
The new Pixel Plus gets a suitably cutting-edge chassis

Verdict

Philips 37PF9986
Sales Web www.philips.co.uk
EASE OF USE LOOKS FEATURES PICTURE SOUND VALUE
VERDICT A breathtaking, stylish flat TV with superior connections, fresh Pixel Plus enhancements and the ultra-cool Ambilight feature, shame about the speakers though.

Overall

BEST RIVALS
Panasonic TX-32LXD1 Sharp LC-37AD1E Sony KDL-L32MRX1
ESSENTIAL HI-FI & HOME CINEMA