Sharp AQUOS LCD LED TV: LC52LE700UN, LC46LE700UN, LC40E700UN, LC32LE700UN

Sharp has gotten on board the LED trend with four new LED LCD flat-panel televisions. These four models use advanced LED backlights to provide brighter, more vivid colors and superior contrasts to older, fluorescent-backlit televisions.

Sharp AQUOS LED TV

Available July 2009

Sharp LC-32LE700UN

from $694.00

MSRP: $1,099.99

Sharp LC-40LE700UN

from $849.76

MSRP: $1,699.99

Sharp LC-46LE700UN

from $1,167.76

MSRP: $2,199.99

Sharp LC-52LE700UN

from $1,497.77

MSRP: $2,799.99

LED backlighting is a hot topic in high-definition televisions these days. We've previously talked about what the benefits of LED LCD TVs are and took a closer look at the Samsung 9000 and Samsung 6000, 7000, and 8000 series LCD televisions, all of which use LED backlights.

In short, LED backlights allow for brighter pictures, more even and accurate contrasts, thinner frames, and lower power consumption relative to older, CCFL (cold-cathode fluorescent lamp) LCD televisions. They exist as an intermediate step, in a sense, between traditional LCD flat-panel televisions and the much-hyped OLED technology which has yet to materialize as viable product. OLED is most likely the future of high-definition television, but manufacturing costs are keeping them under wraps for now. They may come to market in a year or two, but in limited, small sizes and at very high prices. The only OLED television on the market right now is Sony's XEL-1, an 11-inch LCD display that costs around $2,000. The price-per-inch value isn't quite ready for prime time.

Sharp AQUOS LED LCD Televisions

For the time being, LED LCD televisions are the cream of the crop, and there's no sense waiting around for a technology that could still be several years away. This July, Sharp is debuting four LCD flat-panel televisions that utilize LED backlights. The four models are: the 32-inch LC32LE700UN, the 40-inch LC42LE700UN, the 46-inch LC46LE700UN, and the 52-inch LC52LE700UN.

All four of these televisions offer full 1080p HD resolution, and have LED backlights where the illumination is directly behind the display and not oriented along the edges as some are. [See the "Edge-Lit vs. Local Dimming" section of our LED LCD guide.] Sharp says that this will provide the televisions with the ability to produce deep, precise black levels, something that has long been the bane of LCD televisions. Unfortunately, Sharp has chosen to divulge only the "dynamic" contrast ratio for the sets, an astronomical 2,000,000 to 1. "Dynamic" contrast ratio is a popular specification for manufacturers to show off these days, but there's very little value in it for the consumer and conveys nothing about the actual abilities of the TV.

Ecologically Friendly

Maybe the environment isn't something you worry about when shopping for a TV, maybe it is. If you're an environmentally conscious shopper, you'll be happy to know that these Sharp LED LCD TVs are probably the most energy-efficient and eco-friendly televisions you could purchase. As noted, LED backlights require less power than CCFL backlights, so that's an advantage over older models right away. According to Sharp, these televisions exceed Energy Star 3.0 criteria for energy efficiency by between 50 and 68%. LED backlights are also free from the heavy metal content found in CCFL lamps, making disposal of sets a worry-free experience.