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Final Thoughts On Sharp LC46XD1E
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SUMMARY PROS CONS |
Pros
- Fantastic black level + high calibrated contrast ratio
- Reasonable greyscale achieved using "Low" colour temperature preset
- Incredible detail from 1920x1080 resolution
- Minimal motion blurring (best among non-MCFI LCD TVs)
- Extremely accessible input connections
- Independent input memories
- Beautiful high-definition on-screen menu
- Generous 16-step backlight control
- Expansive stereo imaging from 4 speakers
- Unbeatable price point: £1350 for a 46-inch 1080p panel
Cons
- Screen uniformity issues ('banding')
- Electronic buzz (even in standby) and low-pitched hum
- Red push could not be completely eliminated
- Dithering/ pixel noise (up close) unless fed with the most pristine of signals
- Sluggish on-screen menu navigation
- Ugly EPG
- No dedicated component input (shared with VGA port through adaptor cable)
- Need to buy separate dual RCA to 3.5mm stereo jack adaptor to accept component/ VGA audio input from Xbox 360/ Nintendo Wii
- Poor headphone jack placement at the back of the TV
Conclusion
For a first generation 1080p LCD TV, Sharp did a commendable job with the LE46XD1E. Although no longer class leading, black level is – by current standards – still exemplary. Motion handling is as good as it gets for an LCD as long as you don't trot into motion compensated frame interpolation (MCFI) territory. And needless to say, feed it with high definition source in Underscan mode and you'll be rewarded with pictures brimming with astounding detail.
Nevertheless a decision to buy a large flat panel should be considered with care. If you mainly watch SD material, make sure you put enough distance between you and the TV to avoid seeing pixelations and video processing artifacts all the time. Some owners may also be irked by "banding", though to be fair to Sharp LC46XD1EBuy this for £0.00 at Dixons
Use code '5TV' for £0.00 discount other LCD TVs will have their own set of problems... it boils down to which ones you could tolerate most.
At the end of the day, the Sharp LC46XD1EBuy this for £0.00 at Dixons
Use code '5TV' for £0.00 discount is the cheapest 46-inch 1080p HDTV available on the market right now. Period. This alone may be enough to clinch the deal for someone who's willing to look past its flaws and embrace its virtues of deep blacks, high resolution and impressive motion handling.
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