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A 32-inch LCD, JVC's LT-32X575 boasts 1366 by 768 resolution, higher than most in this roundup. The LT-32X575's picture quality, however, left us cold. Rock-bottom scores for color quality and detail left this set the lowest-ranked TV overall in our April 2005 LCD TV roundup.
The JVC's HDMI input can receive digital audio/video signals through a single cable. In addition to color temperature, display settings, aspect ratios, and noise reduction controls, this model has automatic options for dynamic gamma (which affects midtone brightness) and color management (saturation enhancement). These options, which, in keeping with our test protocol, we turned off for our juried tests, improved certain images--such as a nighttime scene in our The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King DVD--during informal tests. You can't adjust red, green, and blue levels individually.
The two bottom-mounted two-way stereo speakers (10 watts each) would suffice in a small room; its virtual surround-sound mode enhanced concerts and soundtracks.
The LT-32X575 can tilt and rotate on its stand. Navigating its menus required a lot of scrolling through screens, but the universal remote was a snap to operate. Thorough documentation explains all features (including remote programming) and provides a troubleshooting list. Still, the set's mediocre image quality dragged it to the bottom of our overall rankings.
Upshot: The worst picture quality in our eight-model test group torpedoed this LCD TV.
Richard Jantz
