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One of two LCD TVs we tested for our April 2005 LCD TV roundup that offered 1366 by 768 resolution (the others had 1280 by 768 resolution), the 32-inch Sharp tilts and swivels slightly but has no height adjustment.
The set's dual analog tuners and all of its audio/video inputs and outputs are contained in an external box that attaches to the TV via a three-cable umbilical cord, so you don't have to get behind the TV to add or detach cables. But the box also takes up extra room on a table or shelf.
Elegantly designed, this set is chock-full of easy presets and has separate controls for adjusting hue, saturation, and value (brighter and darker) for levels of red, blue, green, cyan, magenta, and yellow. The included PC Card slot lets you use a PC Card with an adapter for the media in your camera to view stills or MPEG videos.
The LC-32G4U comes with a pair of detachable two-way stereo speakers (10 watts each), an automatic sound equalizer, and virtual surround sound that significantly boosted the audio for concerts and movies.
The set's picture-quality scores on most of our tests, including brightness/contrast and DVD content, were about average. But in our standard-definition test, the Sharp ranked significantly below average. Still, if you don't mind making adjustments to get the best picture, this sleek TV has some of the top features in its class, along with excellent tech support.
Upshot: Strong feature set and well-conceived design are vitiated by so-so picture quality.
Richard Jantz
