Hitachi's 26HDL52 is 26-inch wide-screen LCD HDTV that will admirably serve as a focal point in a home theater, with the ability to display digital and analog programming and even PC content. The slim black monitor comes with a swiveling stand that can be removed for mounting the 26HDL52 on the wall (an additional bracket is needed). Stereo speakers are built in below the screen, keeping the footprint compact, and control buttons are within reach but out of sight along the top edge of the monitor. A headphone jack, composite video input and S-video input are lined along the side of the monitor, while the remaining jacks are placed in their traditional position on the back panel.

The 26HDL52's native resolution of 1,366X768 translates into a sharp, highly detailed picture, with a 3-D Y/C digital comb filter present to cut down on interference. The screen is coated to reduce glare and enhance contrast, and both analog and digital content are well served on this LCD TV. The 20-watt speaker system can be configured to simulate surround sound, and the internal speakers can act as the center channel in a larger home theater speaker system.

Useful features include six picture formats to accommodate various types of content, a favorite channel list, a sleep timer, multiple PIP options, memory for picture settings for each input and parental locks. The rear connections include two RF inputs, an S-video input, two component video inputs, a DVI input, a PC input with audio and an analog RGB input with audio. The 26HDL52's remote control is remarkably simple to use, offering a reasonable number of buttons that are large and clearly labeled.

Warranty
1 year parts and labor, in-home service