Sharp AQUOS LC-37D40U 37" LCD TV

Great HD LCD

Strengths: Bright Picture. Nice Features. Easy to navigate. Very nice looking shell. 2HDMI

Weaknesses: Standard TV not very clear. Not 1080P

Summary: Out of the box the set controls looked great with a little tweaking. The HD picture looked amazing. One of the best on the market for the price after comparing SONY , Hitachi, LG,and Samsung. Nice easy features like the OPC in which it auto controls the brightness output of picture if used in a dark area. Use of HDMI means easy one cable hook-up for audio and video; and the fact it has 2 I was able to connect my DVD as well as Dish.HDTV Built-in. The Blacks are clear and concise not muddled down. For an LCD that is not 1080P this is very close in quality.

Overall a great quality HD LCD. And for the price point that Sharp has brought it down to.As low as $1899 in some stores it is a great buy.

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Great LCD Screen!

Strengths: -Great Price -Great contrast ratio, response time -2 HDMI inputs -High quality image -Great tweakability -Great size for the price -Amazing images on HD signals -Great presentation (trim)

Weaknesses: -Can't stretch HD signals -Average non Digital cable picture -Over-exadurated reds

Summary: This is a really great HDTV. Though its an older model, I managed to get my hands on one recently and I am very impressed.

One of the main reasons I bought this TV is because the reviews on this board so I felt it was my responibility to write a comment myself.

DVD's look great, Digital TV looks great, HD-TV looks amazing and PS3/BlueRay look amazing. If your concerned about the whole 720p/1080p deal, you should realize that this is a 37" tv and a 1080p signal wouldn't really be appreciated here. On regular TV (non digital) regular programming does have a redder image. This can be adjusted slightly with some tweaking. On HD sources I found no problem at all.

The TV supports 480i/480p 720p/1080i and I have used all 4 of those settings and they all work great. The TV display clearly tells you what input you are using and what image res its on so you know exactly how your TV is treating the signal.

Not being able to stretch HD sources was a negative, but not really bad. I can only imagine its because the TV didn't include the software to resize HD source on the fly, however you can resize regular cable images (stretch, zoom, etc..) On HD sources like a PS3 you don't want to resize the image. On HD sources like HDTV, your HD box will often already provide a stretch feature.. so this wasn't a problem for me.

Bottem line, if you can get a relatively reasonable price and manage to find this gem, its a definate buy. As a quick response to the negative comments I read about this TV. One guy was cleary a Hitachi salesman, so ignore that. The other reporting customer service problems, doesn't really have anything to do with the TV itself. No, I havn't had to deal with Sharp's customer service, but they obviously do not intent to sell you a defected TV.

Hope this helps someone make their choice easier.

Cheers

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Great TV

Strengths: Clear Picture, Good Sound, Good Price

Weaknesses: None

Summary: This is the 3rd Sharp LCD TV I bought. I bought a 20" two years ago. I bought a 37" Sharp LCD TV in China in 2005 for about US$2500. It is amazing how fast the price has dropped. I like the picture quality of Sharp LCD, very natural. For a LCD TV, the screen is 60%-70% of the total cost. A good screen can make a huge difference. Right now, only Sharp, Samsung, LG/Philips, and Taiwanese companies can make large LCD screen. The rest companies have to buy from them. Even Sony has to buy from Samsung.

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Excellent TV

Strengths: two hdmi inputs, digital audio out, auto backlight adjustment, smart stretch function, excellent picture

Weaknesses: small glitch w/ channel display (easily fixed)

Summary: 2006-09-29 01:07:58 I've researched for awhile and have returned two other television sets before I finally settled on this one. It has an excellent picture along with many useful functions and features which I am very satisfied with. You can rename and skip inputs, adjust power saver settings, and all channels are together so you don't have to switch back and forth between analog and digital on your remote. HD material and DVDs look amazing, and SD doesn't look too bad either. The only problem I've had with this set so far is that the channel display frequently pops up when watching material on any of the inputs. Luckily, I read online that this only happens when switching over to an input from a digital channel with a weak signal. To fix this, you just have to tune to a stronger digital channel before selecting your input. It's a minor annoyance, but definitely not a big deal when compared to the overall set. If given the chance, I would definitely make this purchase again.

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Sharp Quality

Strengths: Outstanding HD picture, Good SD picture. 2-HDMI and 2-Component inputs. Solid, well-made set with several user-selectable adjustments.

Weaknesses: Sound quality could be better. Not as "full" as some earlier Sharp models.

Summary: Purchased this TV for use in a family room. The picture quality for HD is outstanding, and much better than others I've seen for standard broadcast. Lots of input options, and the ability to "skip over" an unused input is a nice touch as well as the input labelling option. The remote is configuarable for several devices and the codes clearley laid out to program.

Installation and hookup went smooth, and the set was running in just a few minutes. Default settings are too high but turning down the backlight and color gave a nice realistic picture.

My one issue was the sound quality. It doesn't seem as "full" as other Sharp sets. The bass sound is somewhat weak and boosting it up made the voices a bit garbled. The set has two speaker bass-ports on the back so you'd think the bass would be better. Not a major issue, but it would be a nice improvement.

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Sharp AQUOS LC37D40U

Strengths: OVERALL FEATURES

Weaknesses: NONE

Summary: 2006-07-28 17:11:24 EXCELLENT QUALITY LCD TV FOR THR MONEY. SHARP IS OUTSTANDING WITH FEATURES ESPECIALLY QAM TUNER. --RECOMMEND HIGHLY. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR MANY MONTHS. THIS SHARP LCD IS THE BEST QUALITY FOR THE MONEY. I AM PARTICULARLY IMPRESSED WITH THE EASE OF SHARP PRODUCT- VERY USER FRIENDLY. IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE, THEIR 800 CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE IS EASY TO CONTACT AND VERY HELPFUL AS WELL. I NOW OWN TWO SHARP LCD AND AM LOOKING FOR A THIRD.

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Great TV from Sharp

Strengths: multiple inputs, 2 HDMI, 2 component, great HD picture

Weaknesses: no PC input, could stand to have more composite inputs, for those of us still using older consoles.

Summary: I researched this TV because it had the best picture in the store of any I had seen. I looked it up on-line and found that it had the best specs for the price.

I hooked up Time Warner HD Digital Cable with an HDMI cable and haven't looked back. The HD picture is amazing. SD looks great too. Don't believe those who say that the SD is lacking. Any SD image is going to look bad after viewing the HD on this TV.

My only complaint is that I didn't upgrade to this beautiful piece of equipment sooner. Excellent buy!!

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HD Good... SD Bad

Strengths: Great HD, Great Blacks, Good connection options (2xHDMI 2xComponent)

Weaknesses: Really Bad SD, Reds seem pushed, Greens lack luster, no DVI or D-Sub (HD15/XGA/VGA)

Summary: I have tested this unit with the XBOX 360, an HD-DVD unit, a Scientific Atlanta 8300 PVR (S-VID) and a Standard-Def DVD (480p).

I have to say that it kicks butt in the HD arena. The image was smooth and there was no noticeable "ghosting/streaking".

however...

I was very disappointed with Standard-Def source playback, the image was more fuzzy, blotchy and distorted than any Standard-Def TV unit.

Bottom-line: I cannot recommend this unit to anyone who is planning to use it for general playback of any non-HD sources. But if your in need of a good HDTV and Standard-Def is not an issue, this unit holds its own.

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What I have learned through LOTS of research

Strengths: Design, marketing and rich connnectivity

Weaknesses: TFT is an outdated LCD manufacturing method, it trails in almost all aspect of picture performance than S-IPS or even VA.

Summary: Forget about the advertisement. What I have learned through my own research and years of experience in the semi-conductor industry has boiled down to this: the difference is LCD making methodology is by far the most significant cause to the LCD picture performance. Sharp's LCD making method is TFT, Sony (the much hyped Bravia line) and Samsung use S-PVA. Hitachi, LG/Philips, Syntax, Dell, Westinghouse and others use S-IPS. Based on the testing results, S-IPS (Super In-Plane Switching) is simply the best overall choice. TFT has absolutely been outclassed by S-IPS in viewing angels, response time and black levels. S-IPS is the technology originally developed by Hitachi and later licensed to LG/Philips, Zenith, Syntax and some others. Having spent years in the semi-conductor industry and traveled to Asia more often to Boston, I understand the S-IPS pretty well. I thought it is just a matter of finding one set and make a quick side-by-side comparison. I looked at both LG and Syntax LCDs. Both have slightly better viewing angles than the Sharp LCD, which and noticeably better handling of fast motion objects esp. around the image edges at a high speed. I could still detect easily the blurry moving edges of high-speed objects on Sharp LC-37D40U. But my frustration started with the black levels on LG and Syntax, which are disappointing to say the least and did not fare better than the Sharp LC-37D40U. The Syntax one is horrible in terms of displaying the low gray scales (conventionally called black levels). I could not see the subtle details in any dark objects such the textures of dark clothing and shadows of trees. All I see is this fuzzy darkness. LG one is, on the other hand, so much over the top. The pictures are so hard and feel like they are "screaming" at you. It does not have the color naturalism and the human skin tone is way off (the red push on human faces is unbearable). I finally turned to a friend in the TV business, who told me to look at the S-IPS originator, Hitachi. After doing some reading on their site, I was very much into Hitachi's Director Series' 32HDLX51 due to its AS-IPS (Advanced Super In-Plane Switching), cream of the crop, but I need a bigger size than 32". I decided to go for the 37HDL52. It took some time to locate one in a local shop (but i bought on-line, why not?) as it is not sold in any national chain stores like Best Buy or Circuit City. 37HDL52 beats this Sharp 37 incher hands down in all aspects of picture performance the way S-IPS should top TFT. But what really helps me close the deal is its ability to display black levels. I challenge any serious buyer to find a LCD which can render better black levels than this Hitachi line of LCD. I have not found one. On a side note, I believe Hitachi made a stupid mistake to license its technology to these companies who have failed to fully capitalize the full strength of S-IPS. Last but not least, what bothers me quite a bit are the key specs from Sharp such as 1200:1 contrast ratio and 176 degree viewing angles. Well, they are not even close to my naked eyes. It, at best, has a 120 degree viewing angle esp. on color shift.

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• Is there some reason this guy has posted this information on near...
• This reviewer is awfully confused and has major misunderstanding....

Do Not Buy

Strengths: Overall Good TV when it works.

Weaknesses: Poor Quality. Problems out of the box.

Summary: I purchased the unit online and it was delivered in three days, which was fantastic. I turned the unit on and noticed the menu area had white vertical dots. Sharp replaced the unit and two weeks after the promised delivery date, the new unit arrived. I plugged the second unit in (same model) and this one turned on for a second and won't turn on again.

I don't know what the deal is with sharp, but whatever quality they had, has been lost. Sharp is sending out a second replacement tv, but I'm expecting this one to catch on fire. I am still a little irate, I just got off the phone with Sharp.

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If Only

Strengths: Was good TV for a few weeks

Weaknesses: Been broke for 3 weeks

Summary: I own a John Deere tractor and this TV. My tractor is 27 years old and has never broke down. My TV is 3 weeks old and broke down. I am now suffering through the repair process as Sharp has a no return policy.

I wish John Deere made TVs.

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Worst customer service ever

Strengths: nice tv when it works

Weaknesses: SHARP CS

Summary: Have been getting the run around for a month now. We will expchang the tv it will be there in 7 to 10 days. It's not a month later and no tv, no phone call. When I call Sharp they dont know when or if the tv was sent. Now at least there telling me it's out of stock and dont know when there getting them. The worst custome service I have ever seen. STAY AWAY FROM ANY SHARP PRODUCT! Oh yes also stay AWAY FROM PROJECTOR EXPO IN NY.

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Has Limitations

Strengths: Looks attractive, great picture under some circumstances. Standard TV via cable box not bad.

Weaknesses: No upscaling built in to TV. TV locks in to stretch mode when receiving upscaled signal (720p or 1080i)from upscaling DVD player. Sound from speakers poor. Picture can looked "washed out".

Summary: 2008-01-17 17:29:46 I'll jump right in here: this TV can produce a great picture. However, it has some severe limitations.

First: The television does not have any built in upscaling circuitry. Watching a DVD movie at regular resolution (480p) looks terrible. If you go with this and plan to watch movies, you will HAVE to purchase an upscaling DVD player.

That said, Upscaled DVD (720p, 1080i) movies can look excellent.

However, be warned: when the TV receives an upscaled signal (HDTV, 720p, 1080i) it will lock in to "stretch mode". You will not be able to toggle through the various aspect modes. There is no way around this.

This creates a problem when viewing older, non-anamorphic DVD movies. If the movie is just a plain 2:35:1, the "stretch mode" will give a warped, stretched picture that you can't change.

Anamorphic movies ("enhanced for 16x9 televisions") look fine though, with no distortion.

My problem is that I have been buying DVD's since the late 90's, and many movies in my collection are wide screen, but not anamorphic.

So you have a TV that won't upscale, needs an upscaling DVD player for movies to look decent, and will lock in to stretch mode when it receives an upscaled or HDTV signal.

I called Sharp customer service and was able to speak to a live person. However, he provided little help.

I thought perhaps the "stretch mode" feature could be circumvented. Most upscaling DVD players do so via an HDMI connection. I wondered if I could get and upscaled signal to the TV via component connection, than would the stretch mode feature still kick in?

The short answer is "yes". Doesn't matter what connection you use. An upscaled signal from any input will cause the stretch mode to lock (I used a Helios 4000 upscaling DVD player which will upscale via component cable as well as HDMI).

My advice would be to take a pass on this TV-- make sure the one you buy has built in upscaling and doesn't "lock" in to an aspect ratio mode when receiving a high definition or upscaled signal.

edit on 1/17/08: the OPPO 981HD DVD player will upscale and also correct non-anamorphic DVD's so the aspect ratio looks correct when output to the TV-- even though its locked in to stretch mode.

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