Sharp LC-46E77U

Display Size & Technology
The LC-46E77U's screen measures 46 inches diagonally, and uses LCD technology. As a general rule, LCD screens are brighter than plasma TVs, but have poorer blacks and contrast ratios.

Viewing an LCD from any angle but straight on typically
results in a degraded picture quality.

Format & Resolution
The LC-46E77U displays in 1080p. It has a 1920x1080 resolution and an aspect ratio of 16:9.

Brightness, Blacks & Contrast Ratio
True to LDC's stigma, the LC-46E77U didn't seem to have the best contrast ratio – the blacks certainly weren't as deep as the plasmas we looked at. When we looked at the video from different viewing angles, the contrast ratio diminished a bit, but not by a huge amount. We'd say it was about average compared to the other LCDs we saw, but worst than the plasmas.

Refresh Rate & Motion
With a 120Hz refresh rate, the LC-46E77U had fluid motion without any discernable blurring. There were a few TVs at the show with 240Hz and above, but we were only able to spot differences between those with the standard 60Hz rate and 120Hz. We therefore think the LC-46E77U's refresh rate is enough to ensure motion won't look ugly. The TV can also support 24p playback, which is the format movies are typically shot in.

Viewing Angle
Sharp seems to think the viewing angle for the LC-46E77U is 176º. While we were impressed that there was never a point of solarization or a significant degredation of video quality, we still wouldn't recommend viewing any TV from 176º. Also, the contrast ratio seemed to suffer a tiny bit around 30º, and continues to fall off gradually from that point on.

Color
Like it's bigger sister, the LC-46E77U didn't have the best color quality. Other Sharp TVs, like the LC-65XS1, seemed to have incredible vibrance (but also had absurd prices). While the LC-46E77U was certainly capable of bright colors, they just looked a bit washed out compared to the surrounding, higher-end models. Also, the colors seemed to be very slightly uneven: colors in the center looked very slightly brighter than towards the edges. Of course, this was under show floor lights, and this issue could very easily not make it to retail units. If it does, we'll be sure to mention it once we've verified the finding with our lab testing.