Official Sharp Aquos/Quattron LC-XXLE810UN/LC-XXLE820UN Owners Thread

I saw by the views on the compare thread there was interest on these TVs, so I decided to create an Official Owners thread for the Sharp Aquos/Quattron LC-XXLE810UN/LC-XXLE820UN

These models are pretty similar so I decided to just include them in the same thread. Im also copying over my review of the 42LE810UN, leaving out the comparison to the Sony and the story behind the purchase, I will leave the full review intact in the comparison thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1245105), but for this thread, Im only leaving in the parts that concern the LE810UN

Would love to get other owners in here and share calibration details, causes for concern, firmware updates, service menu codes and adjustments, as well as other items pertaining to the overall functionality and potential of these models.

Packaging and Assembly:

First thing I noticed was the manual, THIS IS A MANUAL…..its an actual book, not just 5 pages stapled together and folded in half. This Sharp has got a full tinted glass stand thats got some weight to it with a swivel metal base on the glass (not the T connector). The 810 does not have a detachable power cord. An A/V cord organizer clip is also included with the 810. The plastic pieces that cover up the T connector on the 810 screws on and is one piece. Remote, batteries, literature, screws all included on both sets

Aesthetics:

Honestly, I wasn't high on the look of the Sharp at first. But its starting to grow on me. The Sharp bezel looks like some money/craftsmanship went into it. The 810 has a black bezel in front with a silver trim around it, looks decent and gives a good offset to each other but I wonder how an all black bezel would have been.

The 810 on the other hand has a semi gloss screen and to my surprise, this doesn't reflect light too bad (this is NOT a full gloss like you would see on some laptop screens and it is not the 820 with a glass front, both would reflect light alot more)

The buttons on the 810 are on the lower front of the bezel, almost like how Samsung does it. They seem to be touch sensitive, but they also seem to work better than the Samsung touch buttons, which I wasn't a fan of.

Connections:

The 810 has the 4 HDMIs, 15 pin RGB, 2 USBs, 9 pin serial (for what I don't know), 1 dedicated component, coax, optical, and ethernet. They also include 1 MINI composite. This really pissed me off, especially since they don't include the MINI composite cable or let you know ahead of time its MINI, they just state its composite.


As for the location of these inputs, I like the 810s locations. The 810 are all on the back but come out from the side of the back on the spline, almost like an backward L shaped design how the inputs are laid out.

Remote:

The Sharp remote is a universal remote. On the Sharp remote, the circle selector with arrows to move back and forth on the menu seems too small and Im always finding that instead of pressing the up arrow instead Im pressing the menu button and getting out of the menu. Key placement seems odd and buttons you think you would be pressing a lot are not in convenient locations.

Sharp does not have a button to quickly get into the picture adjustments/motion enhancement features, you have to go thru the menu and jump thru a lot of hoops to change the settings.

The remote is not backlit but does have lights on the 4 buttons to know what device is selected.

The remote is difficult to learn, even though I know where all the buttons are I still feel myself scanning the remote to make sure I press the correct button

Menu/OSD/Features:

In Sharp menu, the items are organized, it seems a bit tedious to navigate.
Options I just quickly noticed that are missing from the Sharp menu are items like 4x3 auto wide feature and display area overscan. While Sharp does address this in the wide mode selections, Sharp combines the two which in return gives less overscan/zoom options.

Where Sharp seems to excel is in the picture calibration options. Sharp throws the sink at us with how many options they put in the menu. There are so many picture adjustment options, I don't even know what to start, which means that this set should easily (with the proper tools and the proper knowledge) be able to be calibrated to perfection. Sharp also tends to give 4-5 options on motion enhancement features, so again this set should be a calibrators dream

Sharp has Netflix and Aquos live support

The 810 can play music and pictures from USB media, the Sharp states there is no video support

Picture/Panel:

Out of the box the 810 picture was alittle too strong with colors and seemed too hot. This set definitely needs to be adjusted before watching. You WILL notice this set is not going to look like any other LCD you have had before, the yellows and golds pop. If it seems unnatural, then it definitely can be adjusted. Black levels are actually great in my quick testing. Calibration on this set is a must in my opinion, I mean even the average user should at least use an AVIA or DVE disc

The motion enhancement features on this set, I didn't notice much judder except on one channel but I think that it was the content that was on, I tried instead a dedicated movie channel and some sports and the multiple options and selections given for these features makes finding a sweet spot very possible

As of right now, I have yet to see any problems that cant be corrected thru picture adjustments. If I had to list one, it would get the yellow/gold colors that seem to pop because the introduction of the yellow subpixel, but this can be corrected in the menu for sure, there are settings for it. But as for the viewing angles, its a vast improvement, no hazing, no fog, it actually looks real good from different angles from my surprise as I was not expecting this. As for the uniformity, I loaded up the same JPEG pictures of solid colors and there is no noticeable flashlighting or edge bleeding. There is also no swirl patterns or dark blotches in the panel, even the corners, which cause some people concern showed the same color/brightness/white level as the rest of the panel. I was actually amazed at the performance and quality of the set, especially considering how much I read about Edge LED and uniformity problems.

Sound:

Sharp has taken the cake here. I was seriously impressed with their sound quality on this TV, especially how thin this TV really is. Im guessing that the inclusion of the 15w subwoofer on the set really helped.

On this Sharp, man at 12 this thing is adequate, at 20 this thing is loud, there is no doubt in my mind this Sharp got the sound right on this set

Conclusions:

The panel is terrific, definitely the high point of this TV. I have only owned the TV for a day but I tried to get around 10 hours in on it watching some dedicated HD movie channels, unconverted 1080P DVDs and some other things as well, so I reserve the right to change my opinion as I become more familiar with the TV, which Im sure I will. As of right now, I haven't noticed any panel problems with the 810, other than ones that can be adjusted thru the menu. More high points are the menu settings, lots of them and multiple stepping and the sound….which I found more than adequate, low points would be the remote is average at best and the menu design could have been better.
This is only my opinion, so far I am happy, Im sure I might find more gripes, but one thing I know for sure, the actual panel on this TV is rock solid in my honest opinion

Hope you enjoyed this basic review and I hope I didnt upset any of you, I tried not to be biased.

Pictures
Manual
http://i41.tinypic.com/b5o328.jpg

Icon/Bezel/Stand close up
http://i43.tinypic.com/33af9mq.jpg

Bezel/Stand full
http://i43.tinypic.com/717e6q.jpg

Connections
http://i39.tinypic.com/a1mtn7.jpg

Remote
http://i41.tinypic.com/2crakw1.jpg

TV On/Light Reflectivity on white
http://i44.tinypic.com/2vkyrtw.jpg

TV On/Light Reflectivity on black
http://i40.tinypic.com/25qqk9h.jpg

TV On/Light Reflectivity on color
http://i42.tinypic.com/nxsu9z.jpg

TV On/Menu/Picture Settings
http://i42.tinypic.com/313p3df.jpg

TV On/Menu/Audio Settings
http://i39.tinypic.com/23hu07q.jpg

Front Bezel/Buttons
http://i39.tinypic.com/vqm7w2.jpg

Front Bezel/Swivel Stand
http://i42.tinypic.com/17r14z.jpg

Box
http://i40.tinypic.com/9lgaw1.jpg

Yea Im sure this thread will pick up but since these models just released, and Im one of maybe 3 people on the boards with this model, not many owners as of yet......but Id say in maybe a month or so, this will be one active thread and hopefully well get some people who get ISF calibration and service menu settings/codes to enable certain features

Good to hear jmmaher that you checked out all the sets and you tried my settings (maybe with a little tweaking) and you found the Sharp to be pleasant.

You get a chance to compare it to some other TVs that were there? Any thoughts you would like to share with us on any comparisons you might have made/seen?

Look forward to seeing your thoughts on the thread when you get it set up and have more time to be hands on with the set

Well, tbh....I have seen a lip sync issue BUT before you jump to a conclusion I have to add that it was only for 1 specific channel during one program, when I checked other channels, the lip sync was fine, and then I flipped back to the original program there was a lip sync issue, BUT once that channel change the program that was on, the lip sync was gone as well

So in my experience it was the actual station/program that was out of sync, and I havent had a problem since that one time I saw it.....so I think it was the station and not the TV

@Nujacc
Well Nujacc when you get a chance to stay awake, tell us what you really think of the set

@torqvaw
I dont know what to tell you....exchange possibility?

Sorry guys I had been doing house work all day, pressure washing and stuff so I hadnt had a chance to really post

Well snoguy you decided to take the plunge? You too also think the off angle viewing is better than the EX700? I knew I couldnt be the only one, to me there is no comparison, the EX700 viewing angle is real bad. I too also thought the colors/blacks seemed better than the Sony, as well as the build quality, you can really feel and see a difference when unpacking especially if you had both of them.....wow 3 EX700 returns for Sharps in a week? If thats the truth Im actually kinda stunned they would swing the way from Sony to Sharp and not choose another brand, I wonder if BB employees are reading these forums and pushing the TVs instead of the EX700s now?

Hossenstein, I have had a lip syncing issue on a particular program, but when I change the channel, the other ones didnt have the lip syncing issue, then when I switched back to the original program I was watching, it was still there, I dont think this was the TVs fault I think it was the broadcaster/stations fault or the cable company STB, but IM inclined to say the first, because as soon as a new program came on on that station, no more lip syncing problem

dumon, I dont know what to tell you other than with the 40in 810 Im not having any of those problems you are describing, and I would attribute it to the best buy environment....Id say just pull the trigger and if you get some problems, just return it saying intermittent and get a refund or another set

jjahshik32, blacks look great to me, and much better than the EX700 blacks. The semi gloss screen could be playing a role in this as opposed to the matte screen. But I compared it to my EX500 as well, and it seem to be at least as good, if not better, in my eyes

This is just my opinion tho

Thats understandable if youre going to order it over the internet, I just got mine at BB because of the price glitch and I was looking for a 40in model

Maybe some of these quirks will be worked out on a firmware update or maybe thru the SM, if anyone has a way to get in there, post it

But in my experience with the OTA its been fine, but thats only been maybe 30 mins here or there with a certain show, possible only bigger models are/were affected?

Looks like I have to pick up this Planet Earth DVD and give it a try, because I havent experience anything like how you described

However, just a quick couple of questions
What DVD player are you using? Any upscaling? What Resolution? HDMI Im guessing? DVD Firmware upgraded? Is the DVD player known to be good? (obviously if you have an Oppo, I dont need an answer for this)

I have a Pioneer DV-410 with modified firmware from Hkan, tried a couple DVDs in 1080P and they looked great
HOWEVER!
Any PAL DVDs I have tried to throw on, I could have 120Hz on with minimal to no fuss, BUT any film mode settings would result in dupe/blended frames which caused major distraction even on 25fps progressive material (material I know to be progressive, not 25i)

I also gave some Xvid AVIs a shot, Xvids from an NTSC source that are 23.976fps, 120Hz and Film mode were not a problem, ANY Xvid from a PAL source that ran at 25fps resulted in the dupe/blended frames when film mode set on, 120Hz was same as PAL DVDs

Basically, ANY PAL material, turn off film mode all together

Edit:
Was watching TNTHD tonight (movie) and experienced lip sync issue, pretty noticeable as well, but when I went to different channels, there was no lip sync problem, I went back to TNTHD and the lip sync problem was there, waited for some commercials and then there was no lip sync, after commercials and back to movie on TBTHD the lip sync was still there

This has to be either a broadcast/station problem or a STB problem....Next time I see lip sync, Im going to have my TV already hook up to the STB with component as well as HDMI and switch to the component and see if its on that input as well....if need be Ill drag my EX500 out into the living room to see if the problem is on that set as well