Sharp’s LC-45GD4U is a breathtaking 45" widescreen HDTV1 that can easily enhance the decor of any family room, living room or den. The LC-45GD4U is the largest LC-TV on the market today (along with other 45" Sharp models), and it displays all content in full HD spec (1080p) resolution, the highest of the DTV resolutions. With a 16:9 aspect ratio, unbeatable resolution of 1920 x 1080 and vivid color purity, it is a next-generation TV to carry you into the high-definition future. The LC-45GD4U utilizes Sharp’s proprietary Advanced Super View/Black TFT Panel, which provides high brightness, an 800:1 contrast ratio, and wide viewing angles (170º H x 170º V). With a fully integrated HDTV tuner and CableCARD™ compatibility, the LC-45GD4U is a complete state-of-the-art HDTV. This means you can "plug and play" with any HDTV-capable Digital Cable Ready cable TV system, without requiring a separate cable set-top box. The LC-45GD4U features an elegant new design with detachable speakers to ensure the sound is as outstanding as the picture. In addition, the table stand (included) can be easily removed for wall mounting applications. Other features that distinguish the LC-45GD4U: HDMI, DVI-I and 2 HD component video inputs, a PC Card slot which allows you to record and view still images and a video on a PC Card, and the next generation of Sharp’s proprietary Quick Shoot video circuit, which enables a fast response time of less than 12ms.
Sharp's stylish LC-45GD4U may be projection-sized in its screen, but the 45-inch LCD TV is a picture-frame thin 4.2 inches, letting you mount it in spots where a projection set would never fit. The HDTV- and PC-compatible Advanced Super View high-definition television houses both NTSC and ATSC (HDTV) tuners and all necessary inputs and outputs, so there's no need for supplementary components; the detailed, 1,920 x 1,080-resolution television is ready to go right out of its box.
The AQUOS LC-45GD4U offers a widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio to match your favorite movies, and full compatibility with high-definition video sources up to 1080i. The set includes 2 detachable, high-aperture aluminum speakers powered by 10 watts per channel.
A handy PC Card slot lets you record still images and video on a PC Card and view them on the TV, and Sharp's proprietary Quick Shoot video circuit ensures a lightning-quick response time of less than 12 ms for smooth-as-silk video and gaming graphics (easily one of the fastest screens available). The set's authorized CableCARD ability means the set will also receive digital cable television systems services directly from the cable operator without requiring a bulky, external cable box.
LCD screens offer a number of benefits over CRT monitors and televisions, including general ease of use, freedom from eye strain (no screen flickering or radiation emissions), quiet operation (no high-pitch "flyback" noise, an issue with CRT TVs), accurate image geometry (no curvature distortion or susceptibility to magnetic interference from, say, speakers), long screen life (no risk of image burn-in), space savings, and light weight/easy positioning. They also tend to be cheaper and, to some eyes, slightly more natural looking than their plasma flat-panel counterparts, which usually "spec" higher (higher brightness, higher contrast ratio).
The LC-45GD4U's Advanced Super View/black TFT (thin-film-transistor) screen offers exceptionally wide (170- by 170-degree) viewing angles and an extraordinary contrast ratio of 800:1 for super-black blacks. Its high brightness (450 cd/m2) ensures wide dynamic range for vivid colors, great depth, and realism. You can place it anywhere--near windows, doors, or other light sources--and its picture will remain vivid. And, with its 60,000-hour lamp life, the backlight life is long enough to give you viewing pleasure for many years.
Connections consist of 2 high-definition component-video inputs, 1 DVI-I (Digital Visual Interface-Integrated) input, 1 HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) input, 2 i.Link (IEEE 1394 inputs), 3 composite-video inputs, and 2 S-video input. An audio/video output (composite- and S-video with stereo analog audio) facilitates hookup with a surround receiver, DVR, VCR, or other destination.
DVI-I is a direct-digital DVI terminal capable of transmitting both analog and digital video data. HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is a lossless, uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface to link any audio/video source (such as a set-top box, DVD player, or AV receiver) with your TV or monitor. HDMI supports standard-definition (SD), enhanced definition (ED), or high-definition (HD) video, plus multi-channel digital audio--all using a single cable. It transmits all ATSC HDTV standards and supports up to 8-channel digital audio, with bandwidth to spare to accommodate future enhancements and requirements.
What's in the Box
LCD TV, detachable speakers, a table stand, a remote control, remote batteries, an AC power cord, an RF coaxial cable, a cable clamp, 2 wall bracket units, and a user's manual.
1 Spectacular monitor...but not nearly obsolescence proof
The 45" Sharp LC-45GD4U is a spectacular LCD HDTV monitor, with superb picture quality that stands up to anything currently on the market. Unfortunately, despite being one of the first 1920x1080 displays, it's not as obsolescence proof as you might think as it doesn't support 1080p resolution at this time without major workarounds. In English, this means that next-generation DVDs won't be displayed in maximum resolution and some HTPCs will have problems. Still, this is a marvelous HDTV; its just that if you're paying this much for it you shouldn't compromise at all - meaning I mark it down 1 star - and the one-year warranty is skimpy enough to take another half-star off. If you want better protection against obsolescence, look at the LC-45GX6U, which has an easier 1080p workaround.
LCDs and plasma each have their own camps; plasma offers better blacks and brighter pictures, where LCDs are easier to break in, have longer lives with a fairly simple repair, and don't wash out in the sunlight. (You need to watch for yourself to make up your own mind.) What's also neat is that (unlike plasma) there are now several LCDs that have reached the limits of HDTV broadcasts with 1920x1080 resolution; there are more coming in the next few months, but for now the three 45" Sharp 1920x1080 LCDs are tied with Samsung for the best native resolution and offer better picture quality comparable to the best plasmas. The difference between the models is minor. The GD4U has detachable side speakers and is silver, the GD6U has a detachable bottom speaker and is titanium, and the GX6U's tuner and scaler are in a standalone box (the GD4U and GD6U have an integrated one) and is also titanium with a detachable bottom speaker.
Picture quality is nothing short of spectacular. The blacks rival plasmas, there's no noticeable streaking, and you pretty much can't complain about how this treats any HDTV signal. There still aren't a lot of 1920x1080i HD signals out there (in fact, DirecTV and others just disappointingly cut their signals to 1280x1080i), but those that are display nicely and the 720p signals look good too. (For those slightly confused, HD transmits either in 720p (720 horizontal lines non interlaced) or 1080i (1080 lines interlaced)). One added benefit is that the hardware actually does a good job upscaling both standard broadcasts (480i) and DVDs (480p) to make them look decent. Can't argue with that, although you can tell the difference between the quality of this TV's integrated upscaling versus that of a separate $1000 high end scaler like the DVDO Iscan. Several other features are also useful. CableCARD is a good cheap second tuner (even though this version 1.0 doesn't support sending a signal back to the cable company, which means you can't buy PPV with it). This is also one of the few tuners whose Firewire connection works out of the box with the JVC DVHS VCRs - important as this will save you immense amounts of pain trying to save digital recordings. (Timeshifting is another matter as Sharp skimped on a program timer, but there are current workarounds and HD Tivo will be out in a year anyway.) Essentially, for anything you want to watch today this is about as good a toy as you can get.
So why not 5 stars?
The problem is that Sharp decided that the best you should be able to do with their hardware is to display a 1080i signal. That's fine for today, but the problem is that within a year there should in fact be numerous 1080p sources (in fact, there were several displayed at CES this year) and what's worse is Sharp is somewhat guilty of false advertising as the units are still advertised on Sharp's website as 1080p. In addition, if you're trying to hook up a PC to this the best the tuner will let you display is 1280x1024 resolution, an issue for those with HTPCs. To some extent this is a moot point - the competition is stuck at 1364x768, and it may be hard to tell 1080i from 1080p on a monitor as small as 45" - but there's really no excuse for a monitor that can display 1080p but can't because Sharp wanted to save $100 on hardware.
The good news is that the unit with a separate tuner (the GX6U) will happily display 1080p resolutions through the monitor's DVI input...but only if you disconnect the tuner and put your own source in. As a workaround its simple, but also requires a separate $250 DVI switcher if you don't want to constantly connect and disconnect. Unfortunately, with the GD4U and GD6U it's not nearly that easy as you can't bypass the integrated tuner. Furthermore, reported solutions have had notable degrades in picture quality. Sharp has mentioned they may push out an upgrade that would solve this, but I wouldn't hold your breath. Sony wants $3000 for their 1080p upgrade to the Qualia, which should tell you why Sharp hasn't yet implemented this.
Finally, the one year warranty (compared to three for most plasma units) is pretty skimpy, although reports of trouble with these monitors have been significantly less than plasma units.
Still, for today's signals, this can't be beat. I just think that if you're going to spend this much on a TV you should not have to think about buying another one for many, many years to come. Only the GX6U offers that for now, which is why I recommend that instead of the GD4U and GD6U. In any case, if you're patient, you should see prices come down on all three fairly shortly with increased competition and lower manufacturing failure rates. For now, though, the best game in town.
2 Beware of Bogus Marketplace Sellers
This TV is quite amazing, though I must confess I don't own one - I have seen them in stores, however. It is the first full-HDTV with 1080p scanning capabilities and practically the largest LCD you can buy. Check out CNET's review on this model lineup. They give them great reviews, and that's coming from big Plasma TV fans.
As for my title... BEWARE of suspicously low prices by sellers who are "just launched." Some of the prices are 90% off the retail cost! I don't even think Sharp can produce these things for that cheap. If you buy through Amazon, they cover you for amounts under $2500 - but you're giving Amazon's or their insurance company's money to some thief who's likely halfway across the globe. Not to mention the hassle you have to go through to file a claim. Don't do it. If you see them on here report them to Amazon.
3 TV needs to catch up or something
Apparently, all TV is going to become HDTV.
Right now, though, most channels come in looking funny because regular TV apparently can't compare to HDTV's high resolution. So, my dad's got this super-expensive TV that can't even make South Park look good. He talks about how it's going to be the big thing in a year or two and everyone's going to need HDTV.
Question: why not just wait until then?
Another one: With HDTV so much more expensive than regular TV, doesn't it remind anyone about Betamax losing out to VHS? Betamax was apparently so much better. DVD is so much better than VHS, but VHS has still been around the whole time.
Result: Just wait a while to buy one. The price will go down and more channels will be HDTV. I do have to admit that the HDTV channels do look really good.
4 I don't own one.... yet.
I have been researching this beautiful TV for a while now, and I've had the privilege of seeing it first hand at a Best Buy. Wow. If you are in the market for an HDTV of any sort, flat panel, or (crappy, unless it's DLP, even then...) rear projection, you have to give this one serious consideration. First and foremost, it is true High Definition- that's 1920x1080 resolution. Most Flat Panel TV's of comparable size are only 1280x768. Also, this takes any signal you throw at it and up converts it to 1080p, so the picture is sharp and fast. Rear Projection screens will never get as sharp as this, it's the fault of their design. The color on this beast is fantastic. The only thing I've seen that compares is high end computer monitors. Which is basically what this is, only brighter, faster (response time for pixels) and the dot pitch is good too. The contrast ratio is great (800:1). The picture is bright, and there is a sensor on the front that "sees" the surrounding light intensity, and changes the level of the display's brightness accordingly, if you turn it on in the menu. I have discovered only two flaws, from what I've read: The PC in-put seems limited. It seems that you are limited to only a few resolutions, and it doesn't look like it would accept 1920x1080, maybe it will if you set your computer to 1920x1080, then set the TV to the "Dot by Dot" screen size. And the iLink (IEEE 1394 four-pin) is only for D-VHS. It will not support digital video cameras or DVD recorders. If you have a D-VHS for some reason, then this is a cool feature. It gives you a controller on the screen, and you can hook up and control a lot of D-VHS from the screen. To end my ramblings: I can only recommend one other option for a high end Home Theater display. The Sony Qaulia 004. This is a 1920x1080 projector with a Pure Xenon¨ lamp, with SXRD display. SXRD is like LCD only better for projectors- no screen-effect (visible lines between the pixels). This juggernaut of self-indulgence is about $23,000. And then you have to buy a $3,000 lens for it. And then a good screen (up to 400 inches). Then build a theater in your house. So, $8,000 or less for an LCD from the Sharp Aquos line seems to be the best option for the best picture currently available to Mr/Ms Taxpayer. I'll accept any invitations to help construct the theater that includes your new Sharp Aquos 45" LCD. Also there is another version of this that has a separate input box... the LC-45GX6U... it has the same functions and specs as this, but the removable speakers are mounted under the screen, and is about 20 lbs lighter since there is a console sized box for the inputs. Happy spending.
