SHARP LC-30HV6U 30-Inch 16:9 HD-Ready LCD TV

Rating:
Summary: Great Style TV
Review: Just bought this off pcmall.com. Though it took forever to rech me (8 weeks).. but was worth the wait. I would give it 10/10 in style.. it looks awesome. The contrast ratio is much more than the competitors 700:1.. makes a difference when u are watching a DVD.

Ifall you do is watch cable TV, dont be bothered by the contrast ratio.. An average set with 500:1 or 600:1 would be just as good. A less-known brand like SCEPTRE or MAXDENT is available in stores like costco for around 1600$ (30" or more).

I trust the brand name of sharp.. so paid 2200 for this one. Also, seems like SHARP is committed to be in the LCD display technology, the other brands like MAXDENT or VIEWSONIC seem to be scoping out the LCD TV market and I am worried that they might pull out of it eventually, leaving me with no support.

Hope this helps you all LCD TV enthusiasts..

Rating:
Summary: Compared to Sharp LC-30HV4U
Review: NOTE: At present (Oct. 2004) the LC-30HV6U LCD TV should cost under $2500. Amazon was selling it for $2300 but now there seems to be a pricing error. I have notified Amazon.

Review:

The Sharp Aquos LC-30HV6U 30" LCD TV is an outstanding LCD TV. Like the other widescreen LCD TVs from Sharp, it represents the state-of-the-art in LCD television today.

Compared to the more popular (and more affordable at $400 less) LC-30HV4U model -- who the heck was the genius that came up with these silly model designations? -- the present 30HV6U model sports better technology. But for the most part, I feel the cheaper 30HV4U is a better bang for the buck, unless you absolutely want the best, in which case the extra $400 for this 30HV6U is well worth it.

- Better contrast ratio. 30HV6U's is 700 vs. 4U's 500.
- Faster response time. 6U is about 16ms realized vs. 4U's 25ms.
- 1-bit digital audio amplifier, which is absent in the 4U model. This technology recalls Kenwood's successful 1-bit DAC that revolutionized how CD music was processed a decade ago.
- Better speakers. Regardless, you should get your own hi-fi.
- Speakers are placed beneath the LCD panel, vs. the 4U's side-placed speakers, which I find more stylish and convenient. Both models' speakers can be detached.

Both models are HDTV-ready (native 720p), have DVI, and can be used as a PC or Mac monitor.

In short, the 6U model has a (slightly) better LCD panel. I say "slightly" because in real-world performance terms, the 4U is already very outstanding. If one had to rank LCD TVs on the market today, in each size segment, the 6U models are definitely #1, with the 4U coming in at a very close second. (Of course, if you work for another LCD TV maker, you may disagree. But me, Gadgester, is an everyday consumer and a relatively unbiased observer and follower of technology.)

Hope this quick review helps you somewhat. E-mail me with questions and I'll try to answer them.