Sharp Aquos LC-32GD6U 32 inch LCD TV [27]

After my short experience (See Group29 Sharp Aquos LC-32G4U Review) with the Sharp Aquos LC-32G4U, I finally got the TV of my dreams. This is a review of the Sharp Aquos LC-32GD6U 32 inch LCD television that I now own. The "D" in the designation stands for the fact that the monitor includes a digital tuner that allows HDTV broadcasts to be picked up from the air without an extra set top box (Digital - 8 VSB / 64 QAM / 256 QAM / CableCARD™). The analog models like the GA5U and G4U are not CableCARD™ ready.

Note that the LC-37GD6U and LC-26GD6U are practically the same TV and come with the same user manual. So this review also applies to those sets.

Over-The-Air HDTV Broadcasts
The ATSC built in tuner (8-VSB and QAM) adds about $500 to the list price. A separate tuner is running about $300. It is nice having everything in one box. I purchased an indoor HDTV antenna, a Gemini ZHDTV1 HDTV/UHF Digital Indoor type to use with the set. This antenna attaches to a special digital cable connector terminal that uses that same 75 ohm antenna cable. Even in a river valley, I get perfect reception on the digital bands. It helps that I live only 10 miles from the HDTV towers that broadcast all of the local channels in the region. All of the local channels in my area are now broadcasting in HDTV. If you do not intend on receiving over-the-air HDTV, then you do not need the extra "D" feature.

CableCARD™
I could optionally purchase a CableCARD™ through my cable company for less that $2.00 per month. This is substantially less than the $10.00 per month cost of a cable company set top box that would otherwise be required to bring in HDTV. My cable provider does not charge extra for HDTV signals to subscribers. Only the CableCARD or Set-top box is necessary. Non-"D" Sharp Aquos models have the capability to display HDTV signals, but a set top box is necessary. They have neither ATSC tuners nor CableCARD slots.

Myth #1: HDTV required for LCD
The quality of analog broadcasts does not degrade on an LCD TV! The sales folks will tell you that you MUST subscribe to digital cable with HDTV to really appreciate the LCD experience. I would agree with that. However, they will also tell you that regular analog cable looks very bad. That is simply untrue. Analog cable or antenna signals are what they are. If you have been using basic analog cable, you will note a huge improvement in the picture no matter what. The digital dish/digital cable is just the next step up. At this point in 2005, most channels are still broadcasting their normal aspect on the HDTV band anyway. Even the networks are not showing all of their shows in HDTV. Only select shows are actually designed for HDTV, the rest are normal aspect display.

Myth #2: Prgressive Scan DVD player required for LCD
Your local electronics store rep will also tell you that you must get a progressive scan DVD player, otherwise the quality will be poor. They may even tell you that a non progressive scan DVD player will not work! If you have used a regular DVD player and/or VCR up to now, there is no need to throw it away. It will still look as good or better.

Analog Cable
Regular cable from my very large provider looks good. It looks about as good as analog cable will ever look. Obviously there are shortcomings with the TV broadcast resolution.

Twin Picture
I have used this feature to compare the analog and digital signals from my local stations. Interestingly, the digital picture is the smaller of the two on a twin picture screen because of the extra width.

Freeze Frame
This shows a frozen captured frame in twin picture mode next to the broadcast. This is a problem looking for a solution in my mind. If you are playing a DVD movie, you can freeze the playback. On a TV show, you really need to know what you want to freeze. The best application might be on a ball game replay where you can freeze a frame right next to the instant replay. I was able to impress my wife with this feature. She noticed a model in a cosmetic commercial seemed to have two different colored eyes. When she next appeared, I hit the freeze frame. Sure enough, she was right!

D-VHS deck connection with i.Link
This is probably one feature I will never use. The D-VHS format is for videophiles that are not satisfied with the DVD format. The most likely consumers in my opinion, are folks that are "in the business" so to speak. I would probably elect for a digital personal video recorder to record shows. And I am satisified with the DVD quality. The limited selection of D-VHS titles are 3 times the cost of a comparable DVD title. In my opinion, the same people that buy these tapes are the same ones that would have been buying reel to reel tapes of Pink Floyd's The Wall. There is a market, but a small niche at that.

Short Summary Difference Between Sharp 32" LCD models
Here is a short breakdown of the differences between some of the commercially available Sharp Aquos LCD widescreen TV models arranged by features. All the models have Next Generation LCD panels, High brightness and contrast, multiple component input (audio video), analog 75 ohm cable connects, ATSC tuners, analog tuners, HDMI, DVI, and Parental Control V-Chip.

LC-32GA5U : Analog tuner only (1 input), fixed/molded side speakers. The entry level model.
LC-32G4U : With PC Card Slot, Analog tuner only (2 inputs)- removable side speakers. All inputs in separate Audio Video Interface/Control (AVI/AVC) set top box.
LC-32GD4U : With PC Card Slot, Integrated Digital HDTV tuner with Cablecard, side mounted removable speakers, i.Link, special black low-reflection coating
LC-32GD6U : With PC Card Slot, Integrated Digital HDTV tuner with Cablecard, bottom mounted removable speakers, i.Link


This TV is a dream come true. It fits in my TV cabinet. It is the best of breed. It comes with a digital TV tuner built in. It shows great TV on analog or digital. I am finally into the 21st century. {BB}

Footnote March 18th, 2005 - NCAA BB HDTV Broadcasts
The local CBS affiliate is carrying two separate feeds of the NCAA men’s basketball championship during the first and second rounds when multiple games are played. On the regular VHF analog broadcast, they are showing the normal regional games they would have been assigned.

It felt really cool to be able to see two different games at the same time. It was as if I had subscribed to an exclusive cable package or was a network insider. When they showed games from other regions on the HDTV band, the display had blue CBS bars on either side of the screen. I was also able to run "Twin Picture" on my Sharp Aquos and watch the video of two different games at the same time! Now THAT is cool. Read the 2005 NCAA HDTV article here

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LC-32GD6U General Features

CableCARD Slot: This TV has a back panel CableCARD slot that allows digital cable reception without a set-top box. CableCARDs will be available from your local cable provider. HDTV (ATSC) Tuner: The TV has a built-in over-the-air HDTV (ATSC) tuner, so you don't have to purchase a separate digital set-top box to receive and decode over-the-air HDTV/SDTV signals. Native Resolution: The LC-32GD6U has a display resolution of 1366 x 768. The HDMI, DVI, and component video inputs will accept 1080i, 720p, 480p, and 480i signals, and will display them as 1366 x 768. All other input signals will also be displayed as 1366 x 768. Flat Screen/Viewing Angles: The flat screen delivers images that are virtually distortion free and helps eliminate screen glare. Its extra-wide viewing angles (170 degrees horizontal and vertical) allow you to see a clear picture from most anywhere in the room. 3-D Digital Y/C Comb Filter: The 3-D Digital Y/C Comb Filter gives you maximum picture detail and resolution. Lamp Life: The expected life of the backlight lamp is 60,000 hours (at standard backlight position), which equates to ten hours use a day for more than sixteen years. 1-Bit Digital Amplifier: The LC-32GD6U features a 1-bit digital amplifier for high resolution sound reproduction. With a sampling rate of nearly 2.8 million times per second (64 times the rate of CDs), the amp provides dynamic, accurate audio without signal loss or distortion. Picture Flip: To accommodate the wide variety of mounting angles and positions, you can change the orientation of the picture for proper viewing. The Picture Flip feature offers a Normal image, Mirror image, Rotated image, or an Upside Down image. AV Mode: This mode gives you 6 options to choose from to best match the environment, which can vary due to room brightness, type of program, or type of image input:

• Standard: highly defined image in a normally bright room
• Movie: for viewing movies
• Game: lowers image brightness for easier viewing
• User: allows you to customize settings for each input source
• Dynamic (Fixed): changes image and sound settings to factory preset values and allows no adjustments
• Dynamic: for clear-cut image, emphasizing high contrast for sports viewing

View Modes: When viewing programs with a 4:3 aspect ratio, you can view the program in one of four modes:

• Side Bar: viewing the program in 4:3 with black bars on either side of the image
• Smart Stretch: stretches the program more horizontally than vertically to fill the screen
• Zoom: enlarges the picture equally until the screen is filled. (Also suitable for viewing widescreen 2.35:1 anamorphic DVDs in full screen)
• Stretch: suitable for viewing 1.78:1 DVDs. When viewing 1.85:1 DVDs, this mode will show thin black bands at top and bottom of the screen. Note: When in the PC Input mode, you can select Normal (similar to Side Bar), Zoom, Stretch, or Dot-by-Dot (displays the image with the same resolution as the input).

PC Compatible: In addition to the audio/video inputs, you can connect a PC to this TV for use as a computer monitor. The DVI-I input (Input 5) on the rear panel can accommodate the video signal from most PCs. In some cases, an RGB/DVI conversion cable is required if the PC does not have a DVI-I output. A 3.5mm (1/8") minijack input is provided for PC audio. Quick Shoot: Sharp's proprietary Quick Shoot video circuit has a fast response time (less than 16 ms), allowing you to view action video more clearly. You can turn Quick Shoot on/off in the menu. Twin Picture: The video from two sources can be displayed at the same time. The two pictures are side-by-side and are the same size. This feature cannot be used with the HDMI input, DVI-I input, or PC Card Slot. You can also freeze the picture, and display the still image side-by-side with the moving image. If desired, you can save the still image on an inserted memory card. Favorite Channels: The Favorite Channels setting allows you to program 4 favorite channels in 4 different categories. The categories are easily accessible as "A", "B", "C", and "D" buttons on the remote. Basic Picture Adjustments: You can make the following adjustments in the picture quality menu:

• Optical Picture Control (OPC): Using the OPC Sensor on the front panel of the LCD screen, the OPC, when set to "on", automatically adjusts the backlight brightness according to the surrounding light.
• Backlight: brightens or dims the screen (-8 to +8)
• Contrast: adjusts the contrast (0 to +40)
• Brightness: for more or less brightness (-30 to +30)
• AV Input Mode Settings:
  • Color: adjusts the color intensity (-30 to +30)
  • Tint: adjusts skin tones from purplish to greenish (-30 to +30)
  • Sharpness: adjusts sharpness of image edges (-10 to +10)
• PC Input Mode Settings:
  • Red: adjusts amount of red (-30 to +30)
  • Green: adjusts amount of green (-30 to +30)
  • Blue: adjusts amount of blue (-30 to +30)

Advanced Picture Adjustments: In addition to the above picture adjustments, you can make further fine picture adjustments:

• C.M.S. (Color Management System): Color tone is managed using this six-color adjustment setting. You can set the C.M.S. Hue, C.M.S. Saturation, and C.M.S. Value for each color. (Values between -30 and +30)
• Color Temperature: For better white balance, you can set the color temperature to High, Middle High, Middle, Middle Low or Low.
• Black Level: Switch "on" for high detail in dark portions of the image
• 3D-Y/C: Setting provides high quality images with minimal dot crawl and cross color noise. Select "Fast" for movie images, "Slow" for still images, or "Standard" for normal viewing.
• Monochrome: For viewing a video in black & white, you can switch the monochrome setting to "On."
• Film Mode: When set to "On," the film mode automatically detects, analyzes, and converts a film source (24 fps) to video (30 fps) using 3-2 Pulldown.
• I/P Setting: Select "Interlaced" or "Progressive". When a 480i input signal is detected, the TV adjusts the image and input signal to "Progressive" for a better picture.

Sound Adjustments: You can adjust the amount of bass and treble (-15 to +15) and set the balance between left and right speakers. In addition, you can turn on/off the Virtual Dolby. Virtual Dolby Surround uses Dolby Pro Logic II technology to retain all of the original multichannel audio information, letting you enjoy a simulated surround sensation with only 2 speakers. Audio Only Mode: When you only want to listen to the audio portion of a program, such as a music program, you can turn off the LCD screen by using the Audio Only mode. Power Control: You can set power control settings to save energy. When set to "Enabled" in the AV Input mode, you can set the unit to automatically turn off if no signal is received for 15 minutes, or if no operation is performed for 3 hours. Five minutes before the power shuts down, the remaining time displays every minute. When enabled in the PC Input mode, you can select one of two modes: Mode 1 shuts off power if no signal is input for 8 minutes, and the power remains off until you turn it on again using the remote or the power button on the unit. Mode 2 also shuts off power after 8 minutes of no signal, but will turn back on if you start using the PC again. The system's default setting is "Off." V-Chip Parental Control: This feature allows you to limit the shows that can be viewed based on the TV Parental Guidelines and a movie's MPAA rating. After setting Parental Control "On", you must enter the 4-digit password to view blocked programs.

Closed Captioning: The system's closed captioning feature can be customized with several options. You can choose the caption size, font style, foreground and background color, foreground and background opacity, and character edge. Sleep Timer: This TV can be set to turn itself off in 30, 60, 90, or 120 minutes. Speakers: The TV is equipped with two speakers, each with a 3" woofer, 1" tweeter, and 3" passive radiator. The speakers are in a single enclosure that is mounted to the bottom of the LCD panel. If you don't wish to use the supplied speakers, you can remove the speaker enclosure from the LCD panel. Once removed, you can connect external speakers to the TV, which has an output of 10 watts per channel at 4 ohms. Removable Stand: The Sharp LC-32GD6U comes with an adjustable stand, allowing you to swivel and tilt the display for the best viewing angle. For wall mounting, the stand can be removed by loosening 4 screws. Wall Mounting: The LCD screen can be wall mounted using the optional AN-37AG2 wall-mount bracket, available from the manufacturer. When using the optional bracket, the display can be mounted vertically or angled up to 10° forward when the speakers are attached and up to 20° forward without speakers. VESA Mounting Bracket Standard: The TV also has 4 mounting holes on the back for an optional wall-mount bracket. The spacing of the mounting holes is VESA 200 (millimeters), in accordance with the industry standards set by the Video Electronics Standards Association. Remote Control (GA242WJSA): The supplied remote controls the TV's functions, plus controls basic functions for multiple brands of DVD players, VCRs, Cable boxes and Sharp audio systems. The remote features full button illumination, plus a number of buttons under a flip-up panel. PC Card Slot Features PC Card Slot: The top panel of the TV has a slot for a PC Card adapter (commercially available), allowing you to use most types of memory cards for recording and playing back still and moving pictures. This unit can record JPEG still images at 640 x 480 and moving pictures at 320 x 240 in SP or LP at 30 frames per second, or EP at 15 frames per second. The PC Card slot lets you use the following memory cards:

Still Image Index: The TV displays thumbnail images of the files stored on a memory card. You can individually highlight and display any image in the Index. Slide Show: You can view still images in a slide show. During playback, you can adjust the frame interval, and you can repeat the entire slide show. Using My Program, you can choose up to 32 images and play them in any order. Recording Moving Images: Using a memory card, you can record the moving images on the TV. You can choose a record mode of SP, LP, or EP. Using the Pre Record function, you can record the video slightly before the point when you press the record button. Playing Movies: When viewing a movie on a memory card, you can enlarge the movie window for easier viewing. During playback, you can pause the movie or move to the previous or next movie on the memory card. Inputs and Outputs Notes Antenna Inputs/Outputs: The TV has two analog antenna inputs, one analog antenna output, and one digital antenna input. Each input/output uses a 75-ohm coaxial jack. DVI-I Input: The TV has a DVI-I input for connecting an HDTV set-top box, DVD player, or PC. A 3.5mm (1/8") minijack stereo audio input is provided for the DVI-I input. HDMI Input: This unit has an HDMI input for connecting components such as HDTV set-top boxes, or other HDMI equipment. In the menu, you will need to specify the HDMI signal type, color matrix, dynamic range, and choose to enable/disable the Auto View mode. i.LINK (S400): The TV has two i.LINK inputs, allowing you to connect a compatible D-VHS deck for digital recording. RS-232C: The provided RS-232C connection allows you to control the unit from a PC. The input signal can be selected, the volume can be adjusted, and various other adjustments and settings can be made, enabling programmed playing.

Note: This operation system should be used by a person who is accustomed to controlling other devices via computer.

Center Channel Input: When the TV is used with a multichannel surround sound system, you can connect an available center channel preamp output on the receiver/pre-amplifier to the TV. This allows you to use the display speakers as the center channel speaker. You will need to enable this input in the setup menu. Speaker Terminals: The speaker terminals on the display are spring clip terminals. DC Output: A small 9-volt DC power output is provided on the rear panel. It is designated for "expanded functionality in the near future." Dimensions Dimensions:

• TV With Stand and Speakers: W=31.188", H=25.188", D=12.063"; Weight: 54.5 pounds
• TV With Speakers and Without Stand: W=31.188", H=22.625", D=3.813"; Weight: 44.5 pounds
• TV With Stand and Without Speakers: W=31.188", H=25.188", D=12.063"; Weight: 46.4 pounds
• TV Without Stand or Speakers: W=31.188", H=18.813", D=3.813"; Weight: 36.4 pounds
• Stand Footprint:  W=26.625", D=12.063"

Added: February 14th 2005
Reviewer: BB
Score:    [27]

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