grouptest: hitachi, jvc, philips, sony, toshiba 91
Next-gen 32ins Jim Hill runs a rule over five LCD TVs that offer more than you might think
The humble 32in LCD TV is evolving. No longer does this screen size represent the purely functional end of the TV market. The latest models sport cutting-edge tech like integrated hard drive recorders, multimedia connectivity, advanced picture processing and detail-tastic Full HD glass. Consequently, there’s never been a better time to buy a new TV, and even if you’ve already made the leap to ‘home thinema’, these new models will leave you hankering for an upgrade. To help you decide, we’ve rounded up five of the most exciting new 32in LCDs on the market. But which will be your next-generation flatscreen of choice?
92 Hitachi UT32MH70B ➜ £800 Approx ➜ www.hitachidigitalmedia.com
Size-zero solution There’s more to Hitachi’s Ultra-Thin LCD TV than meets the eye ➜ Tech Labs
A
B Essentially a monitor rather than a TV, the main appeal of the MH70 is that it’s extremely thin at only 35mm. Picture quality is certainly not compromised. Colour temperature out of the box is a little hot at 8,406K (Point A) due to excess Blue of 132% (Point B), and in the absence of manual adjustment of R/G/B levels, the best alternative is the Warm preset which delivers a reddish 5,994K Before calibration Colour temperature: 8,406K RGB: 99/97/132 Luminance: 52.06fL Contrast ratio: 306:1 After calibration Colour temperature: 5,994K (warm) RGB: 113/96/99 Luminance: 48.11fL Contrast ratio: 266:1
H
itachi wasn’t exaggerating when it named its latest range ‘Ultra Thin’. This skinny set is the slimmest in our Next-Gen roundup by inches. It hugs the wall like an oil painting and Hitachi’s designers have even tapered the plastic bezel to give it a perfumebottle inspired frame. In designing it down to a mere 35mm-wide wafer, all of the components have got lighter too, so lifting it out of the box is a breeze and you won’t need to worry about reinforced walls for your bracket either. In reality most will prefer to mount this set on its elegant table stand, or plump for the similarlystyled floorstand – which is just as well, as the back panel, unusually, has also been designed to be seen. It’s just a gently curved expanse of plastic, but it looks slick in the crystal black finish with the Hitachi logo emblazoned on it. In whittling it down, some of the features have been cut back too. There’s just one HDMI input for instance, no side inputs and no USB Home Cinema Choice january 2009
or memory card slots. There’s little in the way of onboard features too, just Hitachi’s own video processing, called PictureMaster FHD. More significantly, there’s no TV tuner either, so I should really describe this as a monitor. Instead, Hitachi will send you a separate multimedia box free of charge if you send in the receipt for your TV by the end of the year. This connects to the screen via HDMI and contains a pair of digital TV tuners, plus a 250GB hard drive and all the connectivity you could ask for, including three more HDMI ports, a Scart socket and a USB port. Hitachi reckons that now there are so many video sources beyond terrestrial TV, that it’s better to have an external junction box to connect them all rather than trying to cram them all into the panel. A fair point, I suppose.
Size isn’t everything This screen’s 1366 x 768 resolution might seem like a fundamental handicap alongside the 1080p rivals
Separates: A standalone media box with tuner and hard drive is available free of charge
in our grouptest, but at this screen size it’s not really an issue. It can certainly take a 1080p signal and the difference between this and a 720p feed will be difficult to spot; Blu-ray material still looks leagues beyond TV or a regular DVD source. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (Blu-ray) feels extraordinarily detailed, but it does lack the black levels and contrast of the rival Sony and Philips contenders. Our Tech Labs measured its contrast ratio at only 266:1 after calibration. The speakers have been distilled down to discrete drive units sitting below the screen. They deliver audio very clearly, but there’s little bass and they don’t like being turned up very loud. If you are planning to build this panel into an AV system, the sound won’t be an issue anyway and the separate Media Station is a distinct advantage. The lower resolution feels like a bum deal, but actually has less impact than you’d imagine and the set still works well as a hi-def display.
JVC LT-32DE9BJ ➜ £600 ➜ www.jvc.co.uk 93
Hard drive hero JVC sacrificed Full HD for a Freeview+ PVR in its LT-32DE9BJ ➜ Tech Labs
A B Our tech tests of this HDD-toting JVC showed a high pre-calibration colour temperature of 10,637 (Point A) due to excess Blue of 146% (Point B). In the absence of manual adjustment of individual R/G/B levels, the best alternative was the barely satisfactory 6,963K offered by the Warm preset. We also some problems making this model respond to an Oppo DVD player via HDMI. Before calibration Colour temperature: 10.637K RGB: 81/101/146 Luminance: 50.37fL Contrast ratio: 122:1 After calibration Colour temperature: 6.963K (warm) RGB: 83/105/97 Luminance: 27.56fL Contrast ratio: 70:1
T
his JVC set has a couple of distinct advantages over its fellow contenders. One is price – it’s typically the most affordable in the group thanks to some aggressive retail discounting – and the other is an integrated 160GB hard drive with full Freeview+ PVR functionality. If it all seems too good to be true, you won’t be surprised that there are some compromises too. The design is functional, so there’s no illuminated branding going on here, and it’s an HD Ready rather than Full HD panel with a resolution of 768 horizontal lines. It is still compatible with 1080i signals though, and has three HDMI inputs, one located at the side. There’s no USB interface, or a VGA socket for your computer. You might be able to connect a computer via HDMI, but you’d have to choose a compatible display mode. It comes supplied with a table stand as standard, but it can also be wall-mounted with a bracket. The onscreen GUI is far less sophisticated than that of, say, the
Sony, and it looks clunky with its low-resolution icons, but it’s easy enough to negotiate. The JVC’s PVR, made by Humax, has twin tuners, which means you can record two channels at the same time. If you try and schedule a third that clashes, the set automatically seeks an alternative screening of that programme, if it can’t find one it will then ask which one you want to scrap. There’s a handy 8-day EPG for lining up your recordings and enough room on the 160GB HDD to store a few days worth of programming. The Freeview+
specification, meanwhile, means all manner of useful options are available, like Series Link and Split Programme recording. The Freeview broadcasts look a little soft, but the recordings are faithful. The JVC’s image is at its best with DVD and Blu-ray. A 720p video signal from my PS3 playing Pirates... platter shows the JVC at its best. It can’t quite match its 1080p rivals for detail
Multi-tasker: A twin-tuner 160GB HDD is built-in to the JVC
and doesn’t make any big claims about its modest contrast ratio, but it still presents an impressive HD video signal. It’s a shame that standard-definition fare and even JVC’s own menu graphics look so unfocused in comparison.
Audio comes second Sonically the JVC is limited by its miniscule speakers. They are enough to fill a modest room, but don’t expect musicality – the mid-band is way too muddled for that. It’s worth trying out some of the audio processing though. Turning on the Hyper Sound processing will give the treble and bass a useful boost. The JVC LT-32DE9BJ isn’t the best set here in terms of picture or sound quality - the 768-pixel resolution screen puts an upper limit on the amount of HD detail and the onscreen graphics look distractingly low-rez - but add in a very slick PVR and it becomes a much more tempting proposition, especially at this price. I suspect that families in particular will love using this set. january 2009 Home Cinema Choice
94 Philips 32PFL9603D ➜ £850 Approx ➜ www.philips.co.uk
You’ve been framed! Philips proves style and substance aren’t always mutually exclusive
➜ Tech Labs
A B While Philips claims a contrast ratio of 55,000:1 for this Full HD LCD, it proved to be closer to 6,000:1 – which is still excellent. Pre-calibration colour temperature was a little hot at 8,756K (Point A) due to excessive Blue of 135% (Point B). Despite the lack of manual control of R/G/B levels, the Warm preset delivered a very good 6,505K Before calibration Colour temperature: 8,756K RGB: 96/98/135 Luminance: 96.3fL Contrast ratio: 7277:1 After calibration Colour temperature: 6,505K (warm) RGB: 100/100/100 Luminance: 94.45fL Contrast ratio: 5,996:1
I
t’s the most expensive screen in this technology-led face-off, but Philips has gone a long way to justify the price tag of it 32PFL9603D by cramming this elegantly-framed 1080p TV with features. Ambilight is, of course, a key draw (here it’s the Spectra 2 iteration, which means coloured LEDs on two sides glowing in sync with the onscreen action). But aside from that, and the TV’s four HDMI inputs, its real claim to fame is an Ethernet port. If you’ve set up a home network, the 32PFL9603D’s in-built media player will handle audio or photos stored on available PCs. It’s just a pity video isn’t supported. Audio performance is good: additional speakers at on the back of the set help it deliver pseudo surround sound. The rounded corners and clear plastic border of the bezel bestow the Philips with a distinctive style, but it’s a big and heavy set and not an easy wall-mounting job – you’ll need a sturdy bracket and space between the panel and the wall to Home Cinema Choice january 2009
accommodate the HDMI and aerial plugs, which aren’t recessed enough. A table stand is supplied. Ambilight works best with the rear-mounted LEDs bouncing of a pale back wall.
Inner beauty The 32PFL9603D is rich in onboard video processing. This becomes apparent when you set it up via the on screen menu. The first few steps of searching for analogue and digital channels is all very familiar, but there’s another wizard that helps you set preferences for the picture and sound, by choosing which side of the screen or sound demo that you prefer. It’s a quick, crude way of setting the colour, brightness, sound processing, etc, and you’ll probably want to dive into the onscreen menu to fine-tune each enhancement individually. Philips actually recommends using the Smart presets like Movie and Dynamic instead and then turning the Digital Natural Motion and Digital Noise Reduction on or off as you prefer. With too much processing
Halfway there: This Philips can be networked, but it can’t stream video files
going on, the picture will show artefacts, so it’s a case of suck it and see. At least each input remembers your preferences. With both TV and Blu-ray sources, the Philips offers vibrant colours that can seem almost ‘hyper real’ on the wrong setting. Get it right, though, and you can still have a vivid image with plenty of depth and detail. The screen resolution is natively 1080p, and a Full HD signal from a Sony PS3 looks wonderfully crisp. This screen is blessed with a decent set of speakers capable of quite a resonant low end and precise treble. Switching the audio into virtual surround mode widens the soundstage a tad, but also makes it sound processed. Either way, it’s one of the better sound systems on offer. This Philips panel has a lot of crowd-pleasing tricks like up its sleeve, and it looks great in terms of both picture and design. Aside from niggles, like the fiddly remote control and the bulky size of the set, it goes a long way to justifying its premium price tag.
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operate across local networks, and also across the internet assuming firewalls and routers are correctly configured. The modules are compatible with 36-40K IR signals which covers the majority of domestic AV equipment. A wide band IR receiver can be purchased separately that will extend the range to cover 20KHz to 120KHz if required. The IR Inputs and outputs are fully compatible with the Keene IR Distribution range allowing a wide range of different
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96 Sony KDL32W4000U ➜ £800 Approx ➜ www.sonystyle.co.uk
One-track minded This next-gen Full HD Bravia goes flat out for picture and sound quality ➜ Tech Labs
A
A high out-of-the-box colour temperature of 8537K (Point A) was due to excess Blue of 133%, but the lack of manual adjustments for individual R/G/B levels meant that the best preset compromise was an unsatisfactory 6072K from the Warm 2 preset Before calibration Colour temperature: 8,537K RGB: 98/97/133 Luminance: 70.45fL Contrast ratio: 3,692:1 After calibration Colour temperature: 6,072K (Warm 2) RGB: 119/94/106 Luminance: 54.09fL Contrast ratio: 3,879:1
S
ony traditionally takes the style lead with its upper-class LCD TVs, but this one from the W-range strikes me as quite sombre, although the clear plastic window with the suspended Sony logo is a nice touch. You can even switch off the logo illumination if you prefer. What’s more interesting about this TV is the high contrast ratio claim (33,000:1) made for the Bravia Engine 2 processing and Full HD resolution. The impressive specs, combined with Sony’s excellent Xross Media Bar interface, make for a very strong package. Like the Philips set, this Sony is bulky and over twice the depth of Hitachi’s sleek panel. It’s awkward to wall-mount as the cable connections are barely recessed and point straight out at the back. A standard bracket does the job, but you have to bend the aerial and HDMI cables to make them fit against the wall. Poor cable management aside, at least you get three HDMI inputs (one sidemounted), all able to take a 1080p/24 video feed. There’s a VGA Home Cinema Choice january 2009
input for a PC and a USB slot that can be used to view pictures stored on a flash memory device. Sony recently imported the much-loved GUI from the PS3 to its home entertainment devices, giving the TV division a big advantage over the competition in the ease-of-use stakes. Moving a cursor along a pair of axis on the screen is very intuitive and much faster than ploughing through a laborious linear page menu system. The picture quality from the KDL32W4000U’s own DVB tuner is obviously limited by the broadcast, but it looks surprisingly clean and noise-free. There’s an analogue tuner if you need it too, but with a
screen resolution of 1080p this set is crying out for hi-def material like the ...At
World’s End Blu-ray disc. Feed this in at 1080p24 and you’ll see the Sony at its best with dazzling clarity and lush colour fidelity. The palette actually looks slightly muted alongside the over-zealous Philips panel, but this one is the more realistic of the two.
Xross: Daft name, but a superb user interface
The detail on show is stunning. When the Spanish dollar is dropped in ...At World’s End’s opening scene, even the dirt stuck to the coin is perfectly resolved when it hits the ground in slow-motion. There is still some film grain apparent in the darker scenes, but nothing to spoil the picture, and it’s in these darker scenes that the impressive contrast performance (our Tech Labs measured a considerable 3879:1 contrast ratio after calibration) is most noticeable. A low-slung strip on the bezel houses the set’s speakers. These do an adequate job of projecting stereo and Virtual Dolby surround sound, although the size restriction on the drive units means there’s not much low-end bass on offer. Dialogue and treble detail are good, though. While this Sony doesn’t have the obvious design advantage of the Hitachi, or the features and connectivity of the Philips, it scores well in the areas that count the most – in other words picture and sound quality.
better
by design
★ S O U N D & V I S I O N F R O M S E VE N O A K S ★
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The affordable T-Series by REL brings true sub-bass impact to a wide range of multichannel systems. Four years of extensive research and development has resulted in REL’s most accomplished entry-level series to date; compact, fully featured and extremely potent. Driven by high-current amplifiers throughout the range, the T-Series use forward facing drivers for direct slam and attack while the downward facing units generate seismic scale sub-bass effects.
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With three models to choose from, the T-Series boasts all the refinements one expects from REL including exceptional build quality and advanced cross-over networks. Equipped with line-level, .1/LFE and simultaneous speaker level inputs, the T-Series offers the very best of bass with music and movies. Take a REL T-Series demonstration today.
98 Toshiba 32XV505DB ➜ £650 Approx ➜ www.toshiba.co.uk
All-round performer A Full HD set that won’t empty your wallet, but won’t surprise you either
➜ Tech Labs
A B This Tosh’s picture performance owes most to excellent black levels. Precalibration colour temperature was high at 8,132K (Point A) due to high Blue reading of 134% (Point B), but user adjustment of R/G/B levels yielded an almost perfect 6,458K Before calibration Colour temperature: 8572K RGB: 107/94/134 Luminance: 57.78fL Contrast ratio: 227:1 After calibration Colour temperature: 6,458K (user) RGB: 100/ 100/99 Luminance: 62.09fL Contrast ratio: 263:1
T
he Toshiba 32XV505DB’s slim and elegant bezel is befitting of its lofty status in the Regza flatscreen hierarchy. This new XV panel comes in at just a little more than its equivalent model in the AV range, but ups the resolution from 720p to 1080p status and ramps up the dynamic contrast ratio to a remarkable 30,000:1. At £600, it’s the most affordable Full HD panel in our test. It’s not as slim as the Hitachi, but sleeker and lighter than the others, and easy to wall-mount. It comes with a neat table stand and a user-friendly remote control that looks very similar to the Sony zapper. The onscreen graphics are pin-sharp and easy to navigate, so starting the auto setup to tune the digital and analogue tuners is straightforward. It doesn’t carry as many additional features as the Philips set – there’s no USB or memory card slots for instance – but it does carry some useful picture-enhancing processing, like Toshiba’s Active Vision suite that optimizes the picture in a similar Home Cinema Choice january 2009
way to Sony’s Bravia 2 Engine. The Dynamic Contrast function automatically raises and lowers the panel’s backlight to suite the material and maintain the best contrast, while Luma Sens takes this a step further to measure the light in the room and adjust the backlight accordingly. The preset picture modes like Game, Movie, PC and Dynamic-user optimize the picture settings for you if you don’t want to bother adjusting the brightness, backlight and other parameters each time. It also has three HDMI inputs, all of which can take a 1080p24 signal.
That’s better Using its internal tuner, the Freeview image is clear enough, making the best of the standard-def broadcast to fill the screen, but switching to DVD and then Blu-ray gives a better idea of what this 1080p display can achieve. The contrast level is high, bringing clarity and depth to the underwater scenes on the ...At World’s End BD. You can switch the active backlight
Hookup: Three HDMI ports mean the 32XV505DB is pretty much ready for anything
control off at this point if you find the change jarring at all. Black levels don’t quite match those of the Sony, but the pixel-packed 1080p resolution helps it resolve detail to an impressive degree to give a great picture overall. The speakers sound surprisingly bassy, almost too much at low volume levels, but you can tweak the tone controls in the menu. On the plus side, there’s no distortion even at full volume, and in the sound menu, you can specify if you are using an amplifier and prefer to switch the internal speakers off. If you’re looking for a basic panel with a picture specification to fit in with a home cinema, this Toshiba will prove a good fit. It’s the proverbial jack of all trades but master of none: it doesn’t have the deep blacks of the Sony, or the eye-popping whites of the Philips. Yet the Blu-ray-friendly Full HD resolution is a definite strong point, while the unfussy design and crisp GUI make it an appealing set overall.
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NEW BDP-LX71 T H E AWA R D � W I N N I N G B L U � R AY D I S C P L AY E R F R O M P I O N E E R
TRUE, ORIGINAL CINEMATIC QUALITY SEE THE PIONEER BDP-LX71 Enjoy the art of film in its purest form. Films are typically produced and mastered to play at a speed of 24 frames per second. The BDP-LX71 lets you view film exactly as the filmmakers intended; in breathtaking 1080p resolution, at 24 frames per second. The films you watch now become more real than ever. The BDP-LX71 supports HDMI Deep Colour for an unprecedented range of colour tones and exceptionally smooth transitions. The soundtrack is true to the original, too. Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby True HD, DTS-HD High Resolution and DTS-HD Master Audio ensure that you enjoy studio-class sound. Professional-grade Wolfson Digital Audio Converters guarantee exceptional audio performance, too. With a compatible Pioneer AV receiver, the BDP-LX71 can also deliver truly outstanding and precise music CD playback via HDMI, using the specially developed Precision Quartz Lock System (PQLS).
Constructed with a double-layered chassis and dedicated audio and video boards, the BDP-LX71 has a reassuringly solid feel, which is supported by a stable player mechanism. The BDP-LX71 features an optimised Graphical User Interface (GUI) for exceptionally straightforward operation, and supports the connectivity feature KURO LINK, so the remote control of your KURO flat screen TV is all you need to control the main functions of the Blu-ray disc player.
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100 GroupTest ➜ Summary
Everyone’s a winner T
here are no dud TVs in this test of next-generation sets, with each justifying its price tag. They can be neatly divided into 720p and 1080p groups, though, with the Full HD panels having a clarity advantage. The HD Ready JVC lags visibly behind in terms of picture clarity, although it has much to offer in terms of functionality. It works very well as a PVR and the convenience of having a 160GB HDD built-in will more than outweigh the compromise for many. Toshiba’s 1080p set is somewhat of a revelation, price-wise, and it crams in some clever processing into its sleek panel. But its picture performance doesn’t quite compare to its Full HD rivals here. We’d
recommend this screen primarily for bargain hunters. The gorgeous Hitachi will strike many as expensive for a 720p model, but its picture quality is so good, it raises the question of whether Full HD is a prerequisite at this screen size. The thin panel also makes the other four sets look clumsy in comparison, and the bonus Media Station, with 250GB HDD, is a groundbreaking idea. Why, though, does it not ship with the screen without considerable fuss?
Dead heat If you already own a PVR then both the JVC and the Hitachi might not be on your shortlist, but Sony’s KDL32W4000 and Philips’ 32PLF9603D should be.
Sony’s current LCD range is shaping up as a televisual tour de force, especially with the new Bravia 2 Engine. This 32in set has good black levels, impressive contrast and possibly the strongest picture overall in our supertest. However, the Sony’s visual performance can’t stop the featurepacked Philips model sneaking in and claiming joint first place. Even
without Ambilight’s halo effect and the surround sound, its bright whites and vivid colours spring out of the screen. When you tame the over-zealous video processing, it’s clear that this set has a lot to offer. Our advice: have a shufti at both if you have £900 to spend
1st
1st
Verdict
Verdict
Philips 32PFL9603D £850 Approx Price check: www.techradar.com/452419 Highs: Ambilight effect; wealth of video processing; stylish looks Lows: Difficult to wall-mount; bulky design; complex setup Performance: Design: Features:
Sony KDL32W4000U £800 Approx Price check: www.techradar.com/361385 Highs: Strong, deep blacks; crisp picture; excellent Xross Media Bar GUI; USB input Lows: Bulky design; only three HDMIs Performance: Design: Features:
Overall: ➜ Specifications
Hitachi’s screen is the slimmest on the market
Home Cinema Choice january 2009
On closer inspection, you’ll spot the Sony’s sparkly bezel
HD Ready: yes 1920 x 1080 pixels Digital TV Tuner: yes Freeview and analogue tuners HDMI/DVI: yes four HDMIs PC input: yes VGA socket Dimensions: 828(w) x 543(h) x 109(d)mm Weight: 23.7kg Features: Ambilight Spectra 2; Smart Mode (for game, movie, energy saving, etc); USB and memory card readers; networkable photo/ music player
Overall: ➜ Specifications
HD Ready: yes 1920 x 1080 pixels Digital TV Tuner: yes HDMI/DVI: yes three HDMIs PC input: yes VGA socket Dimensions: 794(w) x 577(h) x 242(d)mm Weight: 22.5kg Features: Bravia Engine 2 processing; USB 2.0; Bravia sync CEC control; picture frame mode
Reviews 101
3rd
4th
5th
Verdict
Verdict
Hitachi UT32MH70B £800 Approx Price check: www.techradar.com/313559 Highs: Remarkably slim panel; convenient media box; decent 720p image Lows: Limited sound; media box supplied separately; not Full HD Performance: Design: Features:
Toshiba 32XV505DB £600 Approx Price check: www.techradar.com/378727 Highs: Elegant design; decent stereo sound; excellent value for money; Full HD resolution Lows: Weak black levels; no memory card slots Performance: Design: Features:
Overall: ➜ Specifications
HD Ready: yes 1366 x 768 Digital TV Tuner: yes HDMI/DVI: yes one (3 more on the Media Station) PC input: yes VGA socket Dimensions: 814(w) x 587(h) x 39(d)mm Weight: 13.5kg Features: 250GB twin-tuner Media Station is currently being bundled free; PictureMaster FHD engine
Overall: ➜ Specifications
HD Ready: yes 1920 x 1080 pixels Digital TV Tuner: yes Freeview and analogue tuners HDMI/DVI: yes three HDMI PC input: yes VGA socket Dimensions: 917(w) x 616(h) x 95(d)mm Weight: 22.5kg Features: Active Vision (image processing); Active Backlight control
Verdict JVC LT-32DE9BJ £600 Approx Price check: www.techradar.com/476968 Highs: Useful PVR functionality and recording features; terrific value Lows: Clunky low-rez GUI and remote; limited volume; not a 1080p panel Performance: Design: Features:
Overall: ➜ Specifications
HD Ready: yes 1366 x 768 pixels Digital TV Tuner: yes two plus an analogue one HDMI/DVI: yes three HDMIs PC input: yes but via HDMI only Dimensions: 791(w) x 521(h) x 104(d)mm Weight: 15.1kg Features: 160GB HDD Freeview+ PVR built in; virtual surround sound; DynaPix Plus processing
january 2009 Home Cinema Choice