Sharp LC-46D65U LCD HDTV Review

This is a very square 1080p high-definition television, and though it's rough around the edges we still found some things to like about the Sharp LC-46D65U, even if the remote control is a complete and utter disaster.

The New Green Movement

Sharp has always been trying to make their high-definition televisions greener and more environmentally friendly. Their Herculean effort to reduce waste and inefficiencies in their manufacturing process, as evidenced in their "Super-Green" plant in Kameyama, Japan, has always been a pleasant reminder that it's possible to be mindful of our world while still enjoying its luxuries.

The Sharp LC-46D65U, a 46-inch LCD high-definition television with 1080p resolution, has been developed with such thoughts in mind. In addition to being produced at the aforementioned green factory in Kameyama, the LC-46D65U also adheres to the brand new Energy Star guidelines which went into effect on November 1st, 2008.

Energy Star 3.0: A More Reasonable Standard

Energy Star ratings are meant to inform consumers that included products are good at saving energy and keeping electric bills low. However, there was a flaw in the old guidelines. Previously, the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency, which oversee Energy Star, came to the conclusion that most televisions are turned off most of the time. While the logic is understandable (perhaps factoring in an 8 hour work day and 8 hours of sleep), it doesn't take a scientist to see that it is flawed. Televisions are on constantly, and while it is important to consider the amount of energy consumed while a television is in "off" mode, that's not going to be an accurate portrayal of its true power consumption.

So Energy Star 3.0 does take into account the total power consumption, and for a television of this size and type, a 46-inch LCD, the suggested draw is just under 300W. Sharp claims that the LC-46D65U draws 285W.

Aesthetics: Sharp Lives Up to Its Name

The first thing you notice about the LC-46D65U is that it is very square. The corners are right angles and the panel itself has a sharp, sloped bevel which gives the TV a faceted appearance. It is colored gun metal black, but a significant portion of the TV is lined in dull plastic, which gives it a muddy look. It's an adequate façade, but it comes off a little harsh and edgy, not nearly as pleasant as the smooth, piano black curves of Samsung's LCDs.

Remote Control: An Utter Disaster

No part of the LC-46D65U caused as much frustration as its universal remote control. Though it supposedly has a range of 17 feet, I had difficulty coaxing a response out of the set beyond two feet. Furthermore, within that pitiful range, the angle of approach had to be directly pointing at the sensor. Any deviation from a head-on path resulted in no response.

At first I thought perhaps that the AAA batteries included with the remote were old, or weak. Unfortunately, even when I replaced them with all new batteries, the remote control failed to provide any level of comfortable operation.

Another irritating aspect of the remote control concerns its design. When switching between television and a video game, I went in search of the "AV Mode" settings, so I could evaluate the TV's game mode with the PlayStation 3. A quick glance at the remote yielded no "AV Mode" button, and a scan through the on-screen menu system also came up short. The remote control included with the LC-46D65U inexplicably includes a hidden panel of buttons on the bottom of the control, where your hand would usually rest. The "AV Mode" is hidden beneath a plastic, swinging door that folds out uncomfortably backwards toward the user.

Why Sharp decided to put the "AV Mode" control in an inconvenient, out-of-the-way location and gave "Freeze" (which simply freezes the on-screen image) prime real estate on the visible portion of the remote, is beyond my comprehension.

Connectivity: Inputs Galore

The Sharp LC-46D65U has a bevy of media inputs that provide plenty of room for all your accessories. The five HDMI inputs are well above average; enough to handle an HD cable box, HD video game system, Blu-ray disc player, HD camcorder, and… what else is there? There is also a VGA PC Input, so the LC-46D65U can be converted into a gigantic computer monitor.

The LC-46D65U also bears a USB input, but at the moment that's only intended for firmware upgrades, and not for any fancy media applications like photo slideshows or video file playback. Perhaps a subsequent update will provide such functionality.

Power Saving Features

The LC-46D65U has two features designed to reduce energy consumption, Power Saving Mode and OPC.

Power Saving Mode comes in two flavors, standard and advanced. Standard Power Saving mode makes the TV analyze the content being displayed and reduces the total power depending on how much is deemed necessary to illuminate the video content appropriately. Advance Power Saving Mode does the same thing, but also turns on the OPC feature.

OPC stands for Optical Picture Control, and what it does is dynamically adjust the backlight depending on the ambient lighting in the room. There is an OPC sensor discreetly placed on the front of the TV that measures the lighting, and the backlight level of the TV is adjusted accordingly.

Interestingly, the Advance Power Saving Mode (w/OPC) behaves a little differently depending on how you interact with it. If you enable it from the menu, it immediately jumps into action and the results are noticeable. If you access it from the direct remote control button, it slowly and gradually takes effect. I assume the idea is that if you are using the direct remote button, you are probably in the middle of watching something and would prefer a less jarring transition. It's quite clever, and a bit of user-friendly design that is small but meaningful.

Image Quality: High and Standard Definition

High-definition image quality was excellent, smooth and highly watchable for both 1080i and 720p content. Standard-definition quality was less so, obviously, and even more obviously digital signals were superior to analog signals in standard definition. It's not even worth watching analog standard definition signals on this 1080p HDTV, but after February 17th, 2009 brings the DTV switch and kills analog for good, that won't be a problem you have to worry about anyway. The LC-46D65U is a 1080p television, and as such, it handles 1080p content like a dream. Images are sharp, crisp, and brilliant. This is definitely a TV you'll want to pair with a Blu-ray disc player of some kind. If you're not going to watch full HD content, you may as well avoid 1080p altogether.

Video Game Performance

We tested the LC-46D65U's video game performance with Grand Theft Auto 4 on a PlayStation 3 connected via HDMI. For the most part, video game playing did not work well with the set's power saving features. When the world of GTA 4 entered evening and the scenes became darker, the Power Saving features dialed down the backlight significantly, making it hard to make out fine details or even get one's bearings. When playing video games that have a lot of stark contrasts and dynamic lighting, it's best to turn off the power savers and switch the TV into game mode. I was impressed by the smoothness and detail visible in the game's action; the LC-46D65U made gaming an enjoyable and immersive experience.

Conclusion: Good TV, Terrible Remote

Overall, the Sharp LC-46D65U is a good high-definition television, and is especially well suited for consumers who intend to fully employ its high-quality resolution with full HD content like Blu-ray disc movies and next-generation video game consoles. If you're someone who still is content to dwell between the standard and high definition worlds, this TV might not be right for you, but hey, it's time to leave the past behind.

Despite a few nagging design flaws and aesthetic choices, such as the sharp edged corners and awkwardly arrayed remote control, the core functions of the television make it worth consideration. On top of that, it appears that there are significant discounts available on this television. Amazon.com, for example, has the LC-46D65U for about $1,300, a major price cut from the $1,899 MSRP it debuted with just three months ago.