Review - Sharp Aquos Limited Edition LC-52XS1U-S

An LCD HDTV's ability to produce richly saturated colors largely depends on the quality of its backlight module. LCD backlights continue to improve, transitioning from spectrum-limited fluorescents to wide-gamut varieties. And now, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are poised to be the next step for premium backlight designs. The 52-inch Sharp Aquos Limited Edition LC-52XS1U-S ($11,999 list) is the company's first LCD to use LED-based backlights. The result is impressively colorful imagery that was, initially, too colorful for accurate representation of broadcast HDTV or Blu-ray video material. I was disappointed to find that the LC-52XS1U-S's out-of-the-box picture quality demands professional calibration, and even then the provided picture controls weren't as effective as I would have expected from a TV with a five-digit list price. For $12,000, I'd say that's pretty unacceptable. 

    * Price as Tested: $11,999.00 List

    * Screen Size: 52 inches

    * Type: LCD TV, LCD Monitor, HDTV

    * Native Resolution: 1920 x 1080

    * Supported Video Formats: 480p, 720p, 1080i, 480i, 1080p60, 1080p24

    * Supported Refresh Rates: 48Hz, 120Hz

    * Widescreen: Yes

    * Aspect Ratio: 16:9

    * Video Inputs: Component, Composite, HDMI, RF, S-Video

    * PC Interfaces: Analog VGA, HDMI

    * Networking Options: Ethernet

    * Built-in TV Tuner: NTSC, ATSC, QAM

    * 120Hz (LCD) technology: Yes

    * USB Ports: 1

    * EnergyStar Compliance: Yes