RCA L40FHD41

Color Temperature (6.90)

The generally agreed-upon ideal for color temperature is 6500K. This is approximately the color temperature on a clear day. If the TV's color temperature is off, but remains consistent throughout the greyscale, you won't notice the issue much. When color temperature fluctuates, however, you'll notice.

The RCA L40FHD41 had some issues maintaining a color temperature. As the greyscale progresses from white to black, the temperature is perceptibly cool. Then, towards the darker end, the temperature crashes. When graphed, this drop is literally off the chart, making our scientific test look like a simple sight gag.

Color Temperature
Compare the RCA L40FHD41 to other HDTVs
Samsung LN40B610 40 inches	Sony KDL-40W5100 40 inches	Sharp LC-40E67UN 40 inches

RGB Curves (7.83)

Every color on the TV is made from some combination of red, green, and blue. Since they're the building blocks for the rest of the spectrum, we test each one individually. Overall, the L40FHD41 performed well on these tests.

RGB Curves

There were only some minor problems with the L40FHD41's red curve. There wasn't a lot of differentiation in the low end, but that was true of all the colors. Towards the middle shades of red, the curve gets slightly inconsistent. Overall, though, this was a good performance with no peaking. 

Red Response Comparisons
Ideal Response
RCA L40FHD41
Samsung LN40B610
Sony KDL-40W5100
Sharp LC-40E67UN

Green was more consistent than red. We really didn't see many issues here.

Green Response Comparisons
Ideal Response
RCA L40FHD41
Samsung LN40B610
Sony KDL-40W5100
Sharp LC-40E67UN

Although the curve for blue was pretty acurate, it was choppier than the curves for the other two colors. This means there's a loss of fine detail. For example, a signal could tell a TV to display a blue with an intensity of 204, 205, and 206 and the TV would display the same shade of blue for all three. This being said, the detail being lost is relatively minor.

Blue Response Comparisons
Ideal Response
RCA L40FHD41
Samsung LN40B610
Sony KDL-40W5100
Sharp LC-40E67UN

Color Gamut (4.43)

The colors a TV displays are supposed to adhere to an international standard. This standard, rec. 709, dictates exactly where the red, green, and blue points should be. Rec. 709 ensures all TVs are outputting the same colors. Of course, not all TVs follow this regulation to the letter. In this section we match the TV's green, blue, and red points up against rec. 709's standard.

The L40FHD41 didn't follow rules very well. The red is spot on, but the green and blue are oversaturated. The green is also more bluish than it should be, and the blues are shifted slightly towards purple. 

Color Gamut

Below is a chart of our measurements for the three color points, as well as the white point, compared to the rec. 709 standard. The final column describes how far off the TV is from where it's supposed to be.