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Sharp Aquos LC42D64U 42-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
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| Price: |
4 new or used available from $895.99
Average customer review:
Product Description
Once again, Sharp, a leader in LCD technology, establishes a new design standard for LCD TVs. With a screen size class of 42", the AQUOS LC-42D64U raises the bar by fitting large screen sizes into incredibly small footprints. By changing the layout of circuits inside the LCD panel and by reducing the number of parts, Sharp engineers developed the Slim-line design which reduces depth by 25%, allowing placement of the LC-42D64U in virtually any setting. The LC-42D64U utilizes Sharp's proprietary Advanced Super View / Black TFT Panel with multi-pixel technology, providing 10,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio with Enhanced Picture Contrast Technology and 4ms response time. The LC-42D64U features built-in ATSC/QAM/NTSC tuners and includes 3 HDMI (version 1.3) inputs, compatible with 1080p signals, a PC input and 2 HD component video inputs. Side terminals are included for wall-mounting convenience as well as RS-232C input for control.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #22111 in Consumer Electronics
- Color: Black
- Brand: Sharp
- Model: LC42D64U
- Dimensions: 39.50" h x 12.80" w x 27.90" l, 96.00 pounds
- Display size: 42
Features
- 42" HDTV LCD-TV with Full HD 1080p resolution
- 10,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio
- 4ms Response Time
- PC Input for computers
- RS-232C Input for control
Editorial Reviews
Manufacturer's Description--July 1, 2008
The D64 series is the thinnest line of AQUOS LCD TVs ever built. Its narrower frame means more picture in less space. It's slim and elegant design saves space, while delivering a breathtaking picture and top-end features. Full HD 1080p resolution produces a crisp picture, and a 10,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio with 4ms response time (6ms on LC-32D64U and LC-37D64U) delivers amazingly accurate picture quality. High-efficiency backlight, high-performance speakers and built-in ATSC/QAM/NTSC tuners all hit the mark.All D64 models feature at least two HDMI inputs, a PC input, , RS-232C, component, and composite terminals. AQUOS LINK enables convenient control of your other devices using just your AQUOS TV remote. From the 32-inch Class up to a awesoome 65-inch Class, the AQUOS D64 is a beautiful choice.
Key Features
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New -- DLNA-Compatible: for better interopability with electronics, computers and mobile devices from many different manufacturers (Learn more)
Incredibly thin slim-line design
- 10-Bit Panel offers more colors (Learn more)
- Full HD 1080p resolution (Learn more)
- 10,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio with 450 nit brightness
- 4ms response time
- Four-wave backlight (Learn more)
- 60,000 hour lamp life
- 3 HDMI ports: Simplay compliant (Learn more)
- Environmentally Friendly Manufacturing including a solar-powered factory (Learn more)
- OPC function: Automatically alters brightness to adjust to changing room conditions
- One side-mounted composite video input provides quick access for switching components, with an additional two rear inputs for stationary system accessories.
- Built-in tuners: ATSC, QAM and NTSC tuners provide access to DTV and analog TV channels.
- PC input easily turns your TV into a PC monitor via 15-pin dSub.
- Picture-in-Picture enables convenient simultaneous viewing of TV programs and video or PC sources
- V-Chip system allows blocking of rated TV and movie programs determined by the parent to contain objectionable content.
- Trilingual on-screen displays in English, Spanish or French.
- Auto wall mount compatible:3-dimensional operation via TV’s remote control; no external IR receiver required.
- Removable table stand included
- 1 year parts and 1 year labor warranty
Sizes
- AQUOS D64 Series 1080p LCD HDTVs are available in 32", 37", 42", 46", 52" and 65"
- What size TV should you get?
Learn More
Advanced Super View (ASV) LCD 10-Bit Panel
 | By changing the layout of circuits inside the LCD panel and by reducing the number of parts, Sharp engineers developed the slim-line design which reduces depth by 25%, allowing placement of the D64-series televisions in virtually any setting. Sharp’s innovative LCD panel technology, Advanced Super View panels provide pure whites, deep blacks and a vivid range of color. The panel provides a dynamic contrast ratio up to 27,000:1 and LCD TV industry leading 4ms response time for true film-like smoothness. A 10-bit panel increases the color capability from more than 16 million colors to more than one billion colors. This means richer color and a more accurate, more brilliant depiction of the world on screen |
Full HD 1080P
| By dividing each pixel into two sections and developing an advanced driving system, Sharp’s new Multi-Pixel Technology delivers more natural and accurate color reproduction when viewing the screen from virtually any angle. This technology improves extreme-angle viewing by approximately 60 percent. Full HD, or 1080p, contains 1920 x 1080 pixels, 1.5 times more scanning lines than conventional HD TVs. More scanning lines mean more pixels, more details and a better picture. Sharp’s 1080p panel uses a impressively high-speed liquid crystal to cut response time to 6ms. The fast response time keeps images smooth even in the midst of high-speed motion. |
Four-Wavelength Backlight
 | The conventional three-wavelength red, green and blue LCD backlight just got better. Sharp has vastly improved natural color reproduction with the development of its four-wavelength backlight system, adding a remarkably vivid crimson red to the palette—and changing the way LCD TV is viewed. The LC-57D90U takes the technology a step further with a five-wavelength backlight system, adding an even deeper green. With Sharp, the color possibilities are endless. |
Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA)
  | You already know something about digital living. There’s the TV and digital video recorder in your family room. (And another set in your bedroom.) You have a PC and digital printer in your office, along with a network attached storage device. And you’ve copied all your music onto your portable music player and haven’t had to open a CD case for years. But getting them to talk to each other can be pretty tough. Why is it still so difficult to send digital content from one device to another? Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) is a collaboration of the world’s leading consumer electronics, PC and mobile companies that has created design guidelines for a new generation of products that can work together — no matter the brand. Think for a moment about all of the photos locked away on your home PC that you wish you could access while entertaining your friends and family. Now, thanks to DLNA enabled devices, a DLNA-enabled PC can be accessed from the comfort of your living room or family room via a DLNA-enabled HDTV, where you can enjoy your memories with friends and family, without having to deal with the hassle and non-intuitive PC experience. Or, say you recently downloaded your daughter’s birthday party video from your digital camcorder to your PC. Now you want to share it with your parents who are visiting. Without DLNA, you probably have to burn a DVD of the video or hook up the camcorder to the TV. With DLNA, you can just use your TV’s remote to call up the video on your TV. That’s it. |
Environmentally Friendly Manufacturing
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| Opened in 2006, the Sharp LCD television plant in Kameyama, Japan, includes one of the world's largest roof-mounted solar electricity installations. All Sharp factories achieved green status according to international recommendations that combine economic efficiency, social-mindedness and environmental conservation. At the factories, cogeneration and photovoltaic power generation systems supply approximately one-third of the total energy used. Combined with an on-site fuel cell system that converts energy without combustion, Sharp has reduced CO2 emissions by 40 percent per year. It's Sharp's goal that by 2010, the emissions avoided through the use of Sharp's energy-creating and energy-saving products worldwide will equal their annual global emissions. All Sharp products are designed and manufactured to virtually eliminate lead, mercury and cadmium. |
Connectivity
| Sharp has incorporated advanced HD connectivity and networking capabilities that expand the HDTV’s functionality. A variety of multimedia devices can be connected to the set through any one of the three Simplay compliant HDMI 1.3 inputs (including one on the side), and the customizable remote lets you control all your CEC-enabled peripherals using just one device. Connect HD digital devices like disc players, game consoles, and satellite dish components into the 2 rear connections and use the side-mounted input for cameras, camcorders, and laptops. HDMI is the best performing interface for displaying an HD source on an HDTV. With the convenient 15-pin dSub connection, you can connect to your computer system and play your favorite PC games. All Connections
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Which Size HDTV is Right for My Room?
 | With standard-definition TVs, the rule used to be that viewers would feel comfortable watching a set from a distance of 3 to 6 times the screen size in inches. With HDTV, the resolution is so much better that you can sit closer to a larger TV without noticing the pixels. So with HDTVs, the rule tends to be you can sit anywhere from 1.5 to 3 times the screen size (in inches) for the best experience.
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Customer Reviews
Excellent HD LCD TV for the price.
After researching for 3 weeks, I was set on a Sharp TV. Sony was too expensive for my price range, and while I read a lot of good things about Samsung, this TV's features for the price sold me. After having it for a little while now, this is how I would rate it.
Price - Excellent. 4.5/5 Sharp was the cheapest prices between the top 3-4 brands I looked at that had a familiar name and plenty of reviews. I did examine other brands with lower prices on 1080p TVs, but I couldn't really obtain enough informational reviews or enough good ones to justify purchasing any of them just for the lower price.
Picture - Excellent. 4.25/5. I'll be honest, I was a little worried when purchasing a Sharp TV. First of all, I saw it's previous model (the D62U) at a Best Buy and a Circuit City and was not totally impressed with the picture, but I had heard that sometimes bad feeds or other issues can make a store-display not as attractive. However, my real concern was if my TV would have the infamous "banding" that seemed to plague some of Sharp's earlier models. You can easily find out what banding is by searching something like "Sharp banding issues". I won't go into specifics myself about that. Anyway, I had read this model of TV -can- have banding, but that it is not near as common nor as significant in earlier models. My TV has no noticeable banding issues at all, and I'm not going to go out of my way to nitpick and search for any small issues that may be there as I can't see them now.
As for the picture itself, it is great. Much better than the store displays for the earlier model that had me worry. Obviously, out-of-box settings aren't the best. At first I tried to change picture modes (of which there are several) to a User setting and tweak it using recommendations from some tech forums. This became tedious as people posted different specs and none were really quite looking right for me. So I gave up on that and just tried them on the default settings for what I was doing. I set my HDMI PS3 input to Gaming picture and it looks great. I see no reason to change it beyond that, it looks exactly as I was hoping for. Same with the Movie setting as well for my DVD input. No dead pixels and a crisp clear picture with good contrast black levels and brightness make it a great choice.
Plenty of options available for picture adjustment as well.
Features - Very Good. 4/5 Plenty of inputs. You can read the specs in the item description. My only reason for docking it a point is because the 3rd HDMI and 2nd Component are located on the side and stick out when plugged in. I can understand this could be an eyesore for those wall-mounting it or just not wanting to see them sticking out. I am not using that 3rd HDMI port (yet), but I do have 2 component items hooked up and the cords sticking out the side and noticeable from looking at the TV straight-on plus the location of my TV itself does make it a tad annoying, but I am getting used to it and it's not really bothering me as much as it might others.
Overall - Excellent. 4.75/5 (note, the overall is not meant to be an average of the other scores). Overall, it's definately a great buy. There is more that I could say and some things I have probably forgotten about that I wanted to say, but that's ok. I don't want to make this too awful long a review. So, yeah, basically my experience with this TV is amazingly good and I would easily recommend this TV to anyone who asked me. It's price, features, and picture easily won me over.
In the interest of balance
I am writing this because I have seen some reviews trashing Sharp's customer service, and I felt the need to share my own experience to even things out.
I had originally ordered the LC-42D62U (not from Amazon - sorry!), but discovered some minor 'banding' issues with the set when I hooked it up. Overall, the picture was outstanding, but in dark or deep shadow areas slight variations in tone were evident as horizontal bands. If I'd only spent a couple hundred dollars on the set, I might have just let it go, but for over $1500, this wasn't acceptable. I was initially nervous because, although most customer reviews for Sharp's LCDs were positive, some of the negative ones were accompanied by customer service horror stories. So, with some trepidation, I called Sharp. It was a Wednesday afternoon. The representative I spoke to was courteous and friendly, and asked if I could take a digital photo of the problem and e-mail it to Sharp. That was reasonable to me, so I agreed. I didn't get a chance to send the pics until Friday around noon, from my office. By the time I got home from work I had received a reply thanking me for the pics and promising a prompt reply. By the time I woke up on Saturday, I had received another e-mail saying they had reviewed the pics, would exchange the set, and would contact me to make arrangements. Monday morning I got a call at my office from another courteous rep telling me that my new set would arrive in 7-10 days, and the trucking company would pick up the old set when they dropped off the new - AND that since the D62 line was no longer in production, they would be sending me one of their brand new (thinner, lighter, more feature-laden) D64's.
The exchange went off without a hitch, and the new set looks absolutely fantastic. Like all LCDs, some fine tuning was definitely required, as the out-of-box settings are overly bright and saturated (to make them pop on showroom floors), but once the set is properly tuned it looks amazing. Blu-ray is awesome!!
So, the product is a definite winner, and my initial problems were handled with speed, courtesy, and professionalism. All in all, I have to say that this turned out to be the best experience I've ever had with customer service from ANY company.
Great TV
After many hours of research I came to the conclusion that this TV would be the right one for me. I needed an LCD because the room that I have set it up in is very bright during the day and is in direct sunlight and LCD was the right choice. I have set it with PS3 as my DVD/Blue ray player using HDMI and the picture quality is fantastic. Overall I am extremely pleased with the build quality and picture quality of the TV. The remote control is not the best in the world but is sufficient. You will likely need a surround sound system since the speakers on TV's are not of the highest quality. I have used a Yamaha receiver coupled with Infinity speakers and this has worked great. One word of advise: If you buy from Amazon contact the seller after they have shipped the item so you can get the phone number for the shipping company so you can make sure someone is home when the TV is to be delivered. I had no problems whatesover. The TV arrived in great condition with no dead pixels. Overall I am extremely pleased with this TV and the price obtained at Amazon was great. I would highly rec. this TV to anyone.
