Sharp LC-42D85U

This HDTV did better with sound, producing an excellent surround simulation. A scene in The Phantom of the Opera where quiet dialog suddenly gives way to a loud organ blast had the intended dramatic effect--a sign of good dynamic range. Of course, if you want a really good dynamic range and true surround sound, you'll have to buy a separate sound system with an amplifier and detached speakers.

When you press the remote's Menu button, you get a menu that is legible without taking up much of the screen's real estate. The menu options come with useful, on-screen explanations. But the menu design has its problems: Select a video option such as Contrast, and the full menu remains on-screen while you adjust the selected option. Most TVs hide the menu entirely at this point, so that you can see the entire picture as you adjust it. The Sharp's menu may be small, but it's not that small.

Another shortcoming: The TV has no secondary menu for quick access to frequently changed options.

The remote control is programmable and backlit, but the backlighting isn't handled particularly well. The buttons light up when you push the backlighting control button, but the labels don't. As a result, you can see the buttons, but not what they do. The remote is quite large, with some frequently used buttons uncomfortably out of reach.

On the whole, the Sharp LC-42D85U is a fine TV. It does a solid job of handling video and sound, but there is little about this set that really stands out.