Sharp LC-40LE830U Review
40" AQUOS LCD/LED TV
The LE830 is the replacement for the popular LE820 series from Sharp's 2010 lineup. The TV contains all the best edge lit picture quality features that Sharp has except the panel is 120Hz instead of 240Hz. It is designed for those that want the best picture and a great looking set, but do not care about 3D TV inclusion.
Picture and Viewing Features
Sharp's new X-gen LED panel with Quattron Quad pixel technology is impressing me more and more. Once you review as many TVs as we do, you get used to the most subtle differences in a TVs picture performance. What I am beginning to realize is that Quattron panels offer something more than your average LED TV. Not only are yellow and gold colors more acutely interesting, all of the colors pop more – but not with typical contrast enhancement. Maintaining a natural richness while improving color dynamics is a difficult task, and I am more and more a believer in this technology which I initially thought was a gimmick to be quite honest. The LC-40LE830U enjoys all the benefits of Sharp's best panels while foregoing some of the more expensive features.
Appearance
The LC-40LE830U is a very attractive super thin TV of only .8" depth. The slim .7" surrounding framing bezel is black gloss. Overall, the effect is quite stunning, especially on the larger TVs to have such a slim bezel surrounding a giant black screen. The screen panels on the LE830 are also a rich black when turned off.
Internet Applications and Connectivity
The LC-40LE830U includes built in Wifi for access to Sharp's Internet TV suite which includes Pandora, Twitter, Flickr, Vudu, Netflix, Cinema Now as well as Sharp AQUOS Advantage Live which is an remote online live service offered by Sharp to help you personalize your settings for Internet the way you want them. Sharp is the only manufacturer with such a service.
Standout Features
Quattron, Quad pixel X-gen technology panel mentioned above.
120Hz. The 120Hz feature in the Sharp LED TVs is not as over-hyped in eliminating natural background blur as are some of the other competitors. This is a positive thing, as it leaves the picture looking more natural while eliminating much of the judder and jerky effects that are a problem on LED TVs. Sharp's Hz rate upgrade feature is a little weaker than some so there will still be judder and jerky effects from the edge lit LED TV and LCD technologies.
Value
The LC-40LE830U series offers exceptional value due to foregoing some of the more expensive features in LED TVs today such as local dimming, 3D ready, and 240Hz. The features it does contain – 120Hz, super good looks with thin bezel and 1" depth, Quattron X-gen picture technology, and the built in Wifi Internet Options make it one of my favorite value plays. You even get live Internet TV set up suport.
-Robert Wiley, Editor
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