Sharp has been one of the leaders of LCD development, and its AQUOS line has long been the standard against which all other LCD flat panel sets are measured. The market is a lot more crowded than only a few years ago, and Sharp has had to face off against new competitors, including Sony, LG and Samsung when it comes to sets over 42-inches. The new 52-inch Sharp LC-52D92U is one very impressive set with great picture, nice design and plenty of connectivity options.

Most importantly, the LC-52D92U also offers a picture with some of the deepest and truest black levels in an LCD display. This is normally the weakest element with LCD sets, but this one provides rich blacks and very vibrant and lifelike colors. The 120Hz frame rate conversion is ideal for fast-motion content, including video games and sports. The set's native resolution of 1,920x1,080 resolves every pixel for 1080i and 1080p content from HDTV sources, while 720p HD content, along with non-HD content is scaled to fit accordingly. From straight on this set simply looks incredible, but we were surprised that the off-angle viewing suffers a bit more than some rival sets. So unless you're placing this set directly in front of the couch this is something to keep in mind.

The set's screen reflects virtually no light, and the five-wavelength backlight system casts an extremely bright picture. This has been the greatest benefit of LCD over plasma and other display technologies. With the Sharp LC-52D92U you can comfortably watch TV with the lights on and not worry about the picture being even remotely washed out. This is ideal for those viewers who don't want to feel like they're in a cave while watching TV. Unfortunately, what we didn't like so much was that in a completely dark room the set suffers from a bit of uneven uniformity across the screen. There are some alternating darker and light strips that run vertically down the screen, and while this is a common problem with many LCD models, it seems to be a bit more noticeable on the LC-52D92U.

We were pleased with the connectivity options with the LC-52D92U, which includes three HDMI inputs, as well as a DVI-1 PC input (with a full 1,920x1,080 maximum resolution), and two component inputs. We did not like that the second component is shared with a composite video input, but with the numerous HD inputs, this is a minor complaint. The set also features a second composite/S-Video imput, along with a digital audio output, stereo audio output and an RS-323 port interfacing with other devices. The other thing we're not so pleased with was the lack of side access: this is understandable on a 32-inch set, but a 52-inch set should allow for easy connection for devices such as video game consoles and camcorders, even if it has to be through S-Video or composite.

In addition to the improvements on the inside, this LCD line receives a bit of a facelift on the outside. The LC-52D92U's screen is encased in a glossy black frame that is about two-inches thick on the side and about 1.5 on the bottom and top, boasting a chic look with oh-so subtle chrome accents. Just below the screen is the set's removable speaker bar. This sits about an inch back from the main frame of the set, so it is further hidden from the front. Despite this placement it does deliver decent sound for TV and other content. Best of all, this is removable for those who prefer an even sleeker set and will use the LC-52D92U with a dedicated home theater system.

When the LC-52D92U debuted earlier this year, it was quite an investment. But with prices falling this could be a good set to consider, especially if you prefer to have a few lights on while enjoying your HDTV viewing.

Pros: Three HDMI inputs, great black levels, bottom-mounted removable speaker
Cons: No side inputs, some uneven uniformity with colors across the screen, pricey

Warranty
1 year, limited