First impressions of my Sharp LC-32D62U (56K warning)

[miahallen]

Well, the display is up and running fine at 1920x1080p. It is beautiful, and everything looks/feels very high in quality. Sharps packing was better than expected as I had this shipped from NY to Japan via USPS. It was not double boxed or anything, yet it arrived in great condition despite the fact the box was a bit beat up.

I'm using this only as a computer monitor at the moment, but may add an XBOX 360 later on. My eyes are about 30" to 36" away from the screen, I'm finding that getting any closer and the pixels begin to become visable (I'm pretty picky). From this distance however, everything is clear and ledgible.

1080p videos from Microsoft's library look good, but not great. Does anyone know of a better video library I can use for comparison (I do not yet have HD-DVD or Blueray capabilities)? I think I'm seeing compresion artifacts.

Anyhow, gaming is great, but games that are not capable of using antialiasing are at a real disadvantage for PQ at this dot pitch. Developers really need to get this figured out (for the XBOX 360 & the PC), most already have, but some still have issues (ie STALKER & R6 Vegas).

So far I have not identified any dead/stuck pixels, but I do see some in my long shutter photo that could have some issues (I circled them in the picture below). Also of note, as a fan of silent computing, is the screen does not make any unwanted noise (a nice change from my CRT).

So here are some pictures for your enjoyment:

5 second shutter - no visable banding, but you may notice about 6 pixels that may be suspect, althogh I cannot find them by visual inspection.


Viewing angle






My workspace


AVSForums


GAMING
Supreme Commander


DiRT


1080p WMV
Coral Reef


To the Limit

[MrKiller]

nice!! But i never knew there is a 32 1080p!!!!

[miahallen]

It's been availible since April, aka "LC32GP1U".

[miahallen]

I'm using this only as a computer monitor at the moment, but may add an XBOX 360 later on. My eyes are about 30" to 36" away from the screen, I'm finding that getting any closer and the pixels begin to become visable (I'm pretty picky). From this distance however, everything is clear and ledgible.

Someone on another forum suggested that this screen has "round" (ie non-square) pixels. Can anybody confirm this? I'm tempted to believe him because of my initial impression of the screen. When I get up close, the pixels do not look square like a computer monitors do.

I was under the impression this was the perfect TV for use as a computer monitor, but if it does in fact have non-square pixels, it seems that would be less than idea. As long as I sit back at least 3 feet it does not seem to be an issue. But any closer and I can see the effects, and this is really my only disappointment with the screen.

[darkninja67]

Looks like the back light is not uniform and you have some blue being pushed.
Maybe it is just the camera though.

[reallynotnick]

I have been really drooling over this TV for awhile, simply because it is the only 32in 1080p LCD I know of and I REALLY want that.

Here are some great 1080p videos (720p and 480p also available), it is all done in H.264:
http://www.apple.com/trailers/#section=justhd
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/guide/hd/

[miahallen]

Thanks for the links, those videos look amazing!

[adb]

Very good pictures.

[miahallen]

Originally Posted by adb

Very good pictures.

I have quite a few more if anyone is interested, I can post them. Would you like to see more desktop shots, gaming, video, SD, any specific applications, or any other requests? Let me know.

[Lanbox78]

Thanks for sharing your impressions. I'd love to see a few more desktop and gaming shots.

I was hoping to ask you - I have a 23" Cinema Display right now, and in some PC games, running at the monitors native resolution of 1920x1200, certain portions of the user interface (like text, inventory, menu buttons, etc) seem a wee bit too small. Occasionally I'll just lower the resolution, but I don't like the slightly fuzzier look I get going non-native. For this reason I was actually considering the Dell 2707wfp b/c of the increase in DPI, but with a monitor like the Sharp 32", do you notice a nice increase in visibility?

I was thinking this might be the case, seeing as how the 1920x1080 native resolution has to expand to fit that 32" of viewing space, but I was curious to get your feedback on this.

[james.92]

Originally Posted by miahallen

I have quite a few more if anyone is interested, I can post them. Would you like to see more desktop shots, gaming, video, SD, any specific applications, or any other requests? Let me know.

DVD and HD tv, por favor! Thanks.

[Category 5]

Some users have found that the Sharp clouds are caused by static in the panel from packing/shipping, and they can easily be removed by gently wiping the screen with the included microfiber cloth. Slight clouding looks like the only issue with your set so it looks like you got a keeper.

[miahallen]

Originally Posted by Lanbox78

Thanks for sharing your impressions. I'd love to see a few more desktop and gaming shots.

I was hoping to ask you - I have a 23" Cinema Display right now, and in some PC games, running at the monitors native resolution of 1920x1200, certain portions of the user interface (like text, inventory, menu buttons, etc) seem a wee bit too small. Occasionally I'll just lower the resolution, but I don't like the slightly fuzzier look I get going non-native. For this reason I was actually considering the Dell 2707wfp b/c of the increase in DPI, but with a monitor like the Sharp 32", do you notice a nice increase in visibility?

I was thinking this might be the case, seeing as how the 1920x1080 native resolution has to expand to fit that 32" of viewing space, but I was curious to get your feedback on this.

Actually for me, the dot pitch is borderline too big! The nice side effect of this is I am force to sit back and relax. But no, there would NEVER be ANY reason I could forsee wanting to lower the resolution...it's just about perfect. I think a 27" would also be very nice, but my posture would probably be more of the forward leaning "I'm sitting at a desk" feeling....right now, it's a totally different sensation because everything is so large, clear, and ledgible. I love it!

[miahallen]

Originally Posted by james.92

DVD and HD tv, por favor! Thanks.

Please see my post on SPCR forums, thanks!

[miahallen]

Originally Posted by Category 5

Some users have found that the Sharp clouds are caused by static in the panel from packing/shipping, and they can easily be removed by gently wiping the screen with the included microfiber cloth. Slight clouding looks like the only issue with your set so it looks like you got a keeper.

I felt the same way, and after cleaning it up a bit, it looks a little better! Thanks for the suggestion, I think I did get a keeper!

[fgrenaudca]

The BIG problem I see is in your first picture, there is flashlighting in the corners and clouding on the left side.....seems pretty bad.........can't see how this does not bother you when it's dark in your room.....

[miahallen]

Originally Posted by fgrenaudca

The BIG problem I see is in your first picture, there is flashlighting in the corners and clouding on the left side.....seems pretty bad.........can't see how this does not bother you when it's dark in your room.....

That was taken with a 5sec shutter speed, it's not noticable to the naked eye.

[miahallen]

Originally Posted by Lanbox78

Thanks for sharing your impressions. I'd love to see a few more desktop and gaming shots.

I was hoping to ask you - I have a 23" Cinema Display right now, and in some PC games, running at the monitors native resolution of 1920x1200, certain portions of the user interface (like text, inventory, menu buttons, etc) seem a wee bit too small. Occasionally I'll just lower the resolution, but I don't like the slightly fuzzier look I get going non-native. For this reason I was actually considering the Dell 2707wfp b/c of the increase in DPI, but with a monitor like the Sharp 32", do you notice a nice increase in visibility?

I was thinking this might be the case, seeing as how the 1920x1080 native resolution has to expand to fit that 32" of viewing space, but I was curious to get your feedback on this.

Originally Posted by james.92

DVD and HD tv, por favor! Thanks.

Well, I finally got around to replacing my dinky Altecs, and I rearraged my office/cleaned up the wiring and what-not.

Here's some updated pictures of my setup, all pictures were taken with my Canon SD630 point & shoot mounted on a tripod with manual adjustments:




Just upgraded my rig too, now running a Q6600 @ 3.2GHz with 4GB @ 1000MHz

[miahallen]

And some gaming shots:

[Lanbox78]

Great Stuff. Those images look fantastic.Glad to see you were able to tidy up your desk too!

A few more questions that popped into mind:

1. Does this display scale lower 16:9 widescreen resolutions well?

2. How does game content look when you run it in 4:3 mode (i.e. with black bars on the side)?

3. Despite the displays large size, have you found the lack of height adjustability to be an issue?

4. Now that you've had some time to enjoy the display, have any intangibles popped up, i.e. factors with ergonomics, your setup or the display itself that really only appear with time?

5. I think we're on the same page when it comes to silent computing/gaming. I use the original Antec p180 as my case, and would love to see your specs. Do you have a link to them on the SPCR forums? Or maybe you could PM me? Also, does that cardboard have noise dampening properties?

6. Would you happen to be playing any RPG's or MMO's right now? Games that have a lot of inventory or text to go through? I'd love to see a shot or two of something along those lines, if you ever have a spare moment.

[Murilo]

Im looking at the 26 inch sharp aquos although the resolution is lower, its a bit smaller, and I sit a bit further back then your setup, it would also be used for gaming (360 and ps3), and sd tv, and hdtv.

I just have a couple questions since there similar products and theres very little info on the small sharps on here.

1. Did you look at the panasonic equivilant line? Im trying to decide but leaning to the sharp.

2. It would be close to my projector used primarly as a monitor, im curious how much light spill this gives off, Im hoping it does not light up the room and wash out my projector picture.

3. How is it for standard definition tv, I seen rave reviews about sharps processing for sd tv.

[danpba152]

Does anyone have any good calibration numbers for this TV?

[miahallen]

Great Stuff. Those images look fantastic.Glad to see you were able to tidy up your desk too!

Thanks!

A few more questions that popped into mind:

1. Does this display scale lower 16:9 widescreen resolutions well?

I tried Crysis at 720p, but was not happy, even with AA, 1080p with no AA looks better. Other that that I have not tried any lower resolutions extensively.

2. How does game content look when you run it in 4:3 mode (i.e. with black bars on the side)?

Just fine, so long as you keep it in "dot by dot" mode, looks great! One a side not, the desktop/web/text does not look so good like this, not sure why, but it seems severely over-sharpened or something. Since I only use it at 1080p, and it looks fine there, I don't worry about it too much

3. Despite the displays large size, have you found the lack of height adjustability to be an issue?

Nope, and viewing angles are fantastic!

4. Now that you've had some time to enjoy the display, have any intangibles popped up, i.e. factors with ergonomics, your setup or the display itself that really only appear with time?

The only issue I've run into, is that I'd like more desktop space, the base is almost a foot deep. I'm planning to mount it on the wall soon!

5. I think we're on the same page when it comes to silent computing/gaming. I use the original Antec p180 as my case, and would love to see your specs. Do you have a link to them on the SPCR forums? Or maybe you could PM me? Also, does that cardboard have noise dampening properties?

Here are the most recent pics I have:

I was not impressed with the Ninja's cooling capabilities on the quad, so I ditched it for a "TRUE", which I have been very happy with. I'm now using 4 Scythe Slipstream 1900RPM fans hooked up to my fan controller. For everyday use they stay at 7V (about 950rpm) where they are nice and quiet. Whenever I want to do any extreme OCing/benching I crank the suckers up for 111 CFM each!
I have one used for front intake, one on the CPU HS, one in the rear for exhaust, and one on the HR-03 Plus to cool the GTX.











My newest mod was to cut out a hole in the motherboard tray in order to change CPU coolers without removing the motherboard...best mod in a while!



I also swapped the fan in my PSU again! I was using a Yate Loon, but after learning more about the disadvantages of cheap sleeve bearing designs, I decided a ball bearing modle would make more sense. Also, I've been pushing my rig harder and harder (really getting into OCing these days), I wanted something slightly faster in there. Based on those facts, the most logical replacement would be the Scythe S-Flex F 1600rpm model...I'm amazed how well this 500W PSU has performed for me over the years.



Also, since the pictures were taken, I swapped out the 4GB of Crucial Ballistix for 8GB of G.SKILL PC2-8000. I've also added a 500GB HDD.

6. Would you happen to be playing any RPG's or MMO's right now? Games that have a lot of inventory or text to go through? I'd love to see a shot or two of something along those lines, if you ever have a spare moment.

Sorry, not really my style. You saw the shots of STALKER and Dark Messiah above, those are about as close as I've gotten lately.

[miahallen]

Originally Posted by Murilo

Im looking at the 26 inch sharp aquos although the resolution is lower, its a bit smaller, and I sit a bit further back then your setup, it would also be used for gaming (360 and ps3), and sd tv, and hdtv.

I just have a couple questions since there similar products and theres very little info on the small sharps on here.

1. Did you look at the panasonic equivilant line? Im trying to decide but leaning to the sharp.

2. It would be close to my projector used primarly as a monitor, im curious how much light spill this gives off, Im hoping it does not light up the room and wash out my projector picture.

3. How is it for standard definition tv, I seen rave reviews about sharps processing for sd tv.

Sorry, Sharp is the only manufacturer making a 32" 1080p panel...so it was the only one I looked at.

As far as "light spill", it will light up my office pretty well, depending on the "backlight" setting.

I don't watch much standard def on it, but what I have watched seems to be just as good at my old 48" Mitz RP-HDTV.

[miahallen]

Originally Posted by danpba152

Does anyone have any good calibration numbers for this TV?

Check this thread!

[DCSholtis]

Nice review! I ordered the LC32GP1U from Amazon.com a few days ago hoping to have it delivered next week. I ordered mine due to problems with my older Aquos relating to a HDMI port thats going bad. Especially liked this model due to it having 3 HDMI inputs since I have a Directv box, HD DVD and Blu Ray.

[miahallen]

Just wanted to post a quick update...I cleaned up my office a bit and mounted my monitor on the wall. I've been wanting to do this for a while now, and I'm very happy with the results!

[drivendriver]

Originally Posted by DCSholtis

I ordered the LC32GP1U from Amazon.com

Good choice. I love mine.

[miahallen]

Crysis in action:

[Mr.Scarface]

LOL...i counted 4 stuck pixels on that first picture. Typical for this model. That's why i took 3 of them back.