TESTED: Sharp LC-52D85U LCD HDTV

A Color Palette from Real Life

Blacks: The movie’s 2.40:1 widescreen presentation with attendant black bars at the top and bottom of the screen shows the Sharp’s OPC function giving very good deep blacks.

Shadow Detail: Even on nighttime and dimly lit interior scenes, the Sharp shows little to no evidence of typical LCD black crush (a flaw that can obliterate shadow detail in some LCD sets). The MOVIE mode’s non-adjustable gamma is fairly close to where it should be, which helps things out here.

Artifacts/Noise: None noted.

Broadcast HDTV Evaluation: Today [NBC]

Detail: High-def live network broadcasts such as the Today show are ideal for evaluating picture detail, and the Sharp doesn’t disappoint (the Dot By Dot 1:1 mode cures the inevitable softening that accompanies substantial overscan, which is the Sharp’s default mode).

Color: Very realistic flesh tones are in abundance, as the Sharp’s very good colorimetry more closely matches the HDTV standard than do many other sets.

Blacks: The OPC backlighting function lets me see the right combination of deep blacks and sufficiently bright whites for a good, nicely contrast-y picture whether at night or during a sunny day with all the drapes and blinds open.

Shadow Detail: A politico being interviewed sports a very dark charcoal gray suit, with fabric details clearly visible, along with a deep black anodized lapel mic pair that is easily evident.

Artifacts/Noise: None noted.

Bottom Line:

This latest premium AQUOS LCD TV represents a marked departure from earlier Sharp sets, with a more accurate color palette and an OPC mode the provides really useful light output control. Like most LCD TVs, the Aquos suffers a noticeable shift in picture quality as one moves away from direct on-axis viewing, but is a much better performer in this regard than Sharp sets from just two years ago. The set’s connectivity is quite good, though the AQUOS comes up a bit short in the remote control department. Even so, the AQUOS’ overall picture quality is very good (for LCD, that is), and that’s what’s most important, isn’t it?

SPECS & PRICING

Sharp LC-52D85U LCD HDTV

Screen size: 52” diagonal
Pixel resolution: 1920 x 1080
1:1 Mode: Yes
Video inputs: 5 HDMI, 2 component, 1 S-video, 2 composite, 1 RGB PC, 1 ATSC/NTSC/ClearQAM RF
Other connections: 3 stereo audio inputs, 1 PC audio input, 1 optical digital output, 1 stereo audio output, 1 USB port (for firmware upgrade only), 1 RS-232C serial port
Dimensions (WxHxD): 49.3” x 33.4” x 12.9” (w/stand)
Weight: 62.8 lb.
Warranty: 1 year parts & labor
Price: $2,399

Sharp
(800) 237-4277
www.sharpusa.com