Customer Reviews

Sharp Aquos LC-45GD5U 45-Inch HD-Ready Flat-Panel LCD TV

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Like its predecessors the LC-45GD4U and LC-45GD6U, the Sharp LC-45GD5U and the LC-45GD7U are great LCD HDTV monitors. Unfortunately, despite a slight upgrade to their electronics they still don't support 1080p input to a monitor that is perfectly capable and quite good at displaying it. As such, you're better off either trying to find the now-discontinued LC-45GX6U or waiting until March or April 2006 when the LC-45PT90U offers 1080p support.

This review is to explain the confusing differences between the units rather than a full review of the set versus its competition; please read my reviews of the GD4U, GD6U, and GX6U to explain why these are some of the best sets on the market.

First and foremost, you're buying the same display panels on all 5 units - they are identical 1920x1080p capable displays with 12ms response time manufactured at the same plant. Second, the cosmetic differences are minor. The GD5U is gloss black (versus silver on the GD4U) with detachable side speakers, and the GD7U is almost identical to the GX6U and GD6U with detachable bottom speakers and titanium coloring.

The only real difference between them is a minor change in the electronics. The GD5U and GD7U have a TV Guide function which, when given a proper input, displays programming information on shows much like Tivo or an enhanced digital cable box do - versus the older units, which given the same input only display the basic channel title. This is slightly useful if you're watching on a Cablecard or over-the-air, but if you have a Tivo or such its largely useless. There have also been reports that this feature is incompatible with a number of systems.

Unfortunately, this upgrade wasn't the one the sets really needed. The major problem with all of these units is that the electronics do not support the 1080p capability of the panels (even on the GX6U, where the trick is that you can just bypass them). Granted, there's not much out there currently that outputs in native 1080p - except for some PC and XBox games that will simply wow your friends and a couple Windows PC-based movie like Terminator 2 - and with Blu-Ray and HD-DVD looking like they'll be in 1080i there's no rush. Furthermore, with Hollywood getting more and more antsy over encryption there's no guarantee the GX6U will even work with 1080p native signals for broadcast media when they eventually come out. However, the way to look at it is that by buying anything except the now-discontinued GX6U you're guaranteed obsolescence at some point.

There is some hope on the horizon; Sharp is finally going to put out a couple of sets next year - the 45" LC-45PT90U and 37" LC37PT90U - that will accept and display 1080p input.

Until then, the Sharp G series displays today's signals beautifully, but just know the limitations. It's worth noting that most of the nominally capable direct-display 1080p units on the market (like the JVC LT-40FH96) have the same problems with actually displaying 1080p, so don't get me wrong - the G series is still at the top of the heap in display quality. (There are also some recently released sets with full 1080p compatibility, but as they use different technologies like rear-projection you're comparing apples and oranges.) With the recent price drops, I continue to recommend them, especially if you can land one of the earlier models in a closeout sale. Just know what you're buying first!

iv done a lot of shopping i recently purchused the sharp 37db5u its great but so great i wanted bigger i convienced pc richards to exchange it for me for this unit i know its a lot of money but lets be real it will be in your home for at least 5 years so if you break it down its not really a lot the quality of the aquos was just rated the number one set by consumer reports in the feb 2006 issue i knew this even before it came out this set is amazing it has surround sound built in and the pictures are lifelike yes you can find cheaper and yes they will try to sell you a service contract but its not necessary this is a high or let rephrase the best quality money can buy like i said this is my second aquos you will not be disappointed, it is true high defination it has a built in tv guide . surround sound can be hooked up to a pc. its on my wall now in jet black frame i even purchused a bose system to back it up but its not necessary i compared this set to the panasonics and the sony xbr i paid 4000 for this set and im a guy who works hard for his money and i consider this the ferrari of tvs

I would like to start with saying that i am very glad that i bought this T.V because a lot of the T.Vs that are Hi Def compatible don't even come close to this T.V. I had compared some plasma T.Vs with this T.V and even they didn't really come close i reviewed company's like sony,pioneer, toshiba,etc. I had seen one in silver and looking at the pic provide by amazon. I thought it was going to be silver but when mine was delivered it was Black. I was amazed that i kind off wanted a black one cuz my other electronics are black and i thought i probably can't find this model in black but hey it must be a chirstmas miracle (hahaha). But really to see this T.V 1080p capability u want to get a PS3 because it has graphices ability to really show that type of clarity and resolution. And just because i had seen this T.V been played all day and sometimes maybe 16 to 18 hour a day i know it will last me a long time and it won't burn out like my plasma did after three years. but for the best clarity i would recommend to get the best monester cables company has to offer cause this T.V worth it. And other model for Sharp will be there 65" LCD going for 17,000 but it will look good in my den so i will mos defenitely wil buy Sharp again and order again from amazon because there service over the years has been impeccably and undoubtfully the best compared to other sites.