oneballjaywax's Full Review: Sharp Aquos LC-42D64U 42 in. HDTV TV
So a review on a older product might not always be that helpful especially considering how often new electronics/models come out but hopefully this will give you some information if you happen to see it on clearance or the like.
The Sharp LC-42D64U 42" LCD Television was are first step into the WORLD OF TOMORROW...aaahhhhh (hence the title) actually kidding aside this was our first step into flat panel displays and let me tell you also I researched the hell out of this purchase.
Some items such as DVD players can be bought for under $50 bucks so I don't think much research/forethought should go into deciding to buy one BUT televisions are a whole other matter in my opinion.
Its a fairly large investment and something that is going to get almost daily use in many homes.
Now I am not going to posts specs on the TV, as anyone who is looking at this model can take a little trip over to Sharps website and find ALL the info you need about resolution or number of inputs,etc.
I will post the link to the manual which I think is one (not just for TVs) of the VERY BEST ways to get information on a product. What you can or can't do, hookup, maintenance, etc. can many times be found in the owners manual and nowadays many manufactureres post it freely on their webites.So here it is: http://www.sharpusa.com/files/tel_man_LC42_46_52D64U.pdf
Now to the main reason you are reading this (you already know the specs) is the question: Does it suck or is it worth the money?
and I will not drag out the answer (so you can stop reading now if you want;).....I would give 4.5/5.
I read through many forums and after much thought decided on this one. The picture is sharp and clear especially when pumping high resolution video into it. The max the tv can display is 1080p BUT the best that has ever been displayed on it has been 1080i as that is the best my cable company can deliver...still excellent detail none the less.
You can be around 2 feet from the TV and see hardly any pixels (@ 1080) a big difference from the old boob tube. With widscreens in general, regular (non HD) channels will take some getting use to as they do look a little stretched out. You are sometimes stretching a pic that is in 4:3 ratio to 16:9 some distortion is going to happen WITH ANY TV (that is the nature of the beast with widescreens).
With this TV you do need a cable box...I plugged in the cable from the wall to the TV and it looked like CRAP. So we got the digital cable box and what a difference in picture quality...like night and day.
The old hands are standing to cramp up here so going to throw down a quick Pro/Cons to wrap this review up:
Pros:
-Awesome picture..very clear and sharp (no pun) when good quality source (DVD,Cable box,etc) is being inputted
-Inputs..more then you will ever need.Also liked the PC-Input (think its called VGA input?) can hook my laptop up to the TV...whatever is on the laptop screen appears on the TV....CCCCOOOOOOOOLLLLLLL
-Read that the backlight can be replaced/serviced by Sharp.So after a number of years when the TVs picture starts getting darker throw in a new bulb and bingo like a new TV.Actually by that time probably cheaper to buy a new TV then a bulb/backlight for it...DOH..I still like the fact that it can be serviced though.
-Updateable Firmware..did this 2 times since owning the TV.I always think (well...hope) that updated firmware adds better functionality to electronics and your not stuck with the software/firmware from the factory.Can be updated via USB port on the side just get a flash drive.
-did I say picture is awesome....I would love to see something in BLU-Ray-1080p- on this thing but Blu-Ray discs and players are still a little pricey IMO.
Cons:
- When going from say 480 to 720 or 1080 the is a very noticeale lag to switch to the different resolution...not a deal breaker but a pain in the A*s..follow this sceanario "My favorite show is on....let me switch it to a HD channel....damn I just missed 4-5 seconds of the most important dialogue/video in the whole series"
- just REALLY BEING ANAL (must be my new favorite word realized used it in my last review) now:
-locate more connectors on the BACK of the TV not so much on the sides...don't want a TV looking like an octopus w/ cables poking out from sides
-You can assign name labels to the various inputs (i.e., video1,cable box,etc.) BUT they have no name label: Video Game System or something to that affect.With so many people owning a Wii or Xbox just doesn't make sense.I know being a little extra anal but think I can be on that...they actually listed LASERDISC as a label...WTF? Who owns those anymore...a DVD the size of a record...yeah I have it right next to my 8-track player and betamax.OK enough of rant.
-Truthfully can't think of one truly bad thing about this TV
I bought this TV a little over a year ago in November 2007 and have enjoyed it so much since then. I know when it was purchase got it for roughly 1300 which was A STEAL at the time w/ free s&h and no sales tax. At that time they were going for about 1600 give or take and many stores and it took a while for the price to drop.That's because IMO its that good of a TV. To tell you the truth I was never that big of a fan of Sharp products but this LCD has changed my mind.
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