On August 26, CNET launched a substantial redesign of its Web sites. As part of the changes, we've altered the rating system to include numerals (1 through 10 with decimals) and a five-star system, with half stars. Nothing changed regarding how we test products or calculate their ratings. (Read more about this process below.) You can send feedback by clicking on the link at the top of this page.
- Reviewed on:
- 03/01/07
- Updated on:
- 11/15/07
- Released on:
- 02/01/07
- Click here to see CNET editors' review for Sharp LC-52D92U
Editors' rating: televisions
CNET Electronics editors rate televisions on a scale of 1 through 10. Any product achieving an overall score of 8 or better can be considered for an Editors' Choice award. To calculate the rating, different criteria are scored on our 10-point scale. These scores are then weighted as detailed below, added, and converted to conform to our rating system.
The rating criteria with the weightings by class are:
(30 percent of the total rating)
We look at not only the overall aesthetics of the product but also its interface and included remote. An uninspiring but functional design will rate a 5. Higher scores will be given for a well-designed remote with backlit buttons, a clear onscreen navigation system, and particularly sleek cosmetics.
Features
(30 percent of the total rating)
The range of features is considered in determining this portion of the rating. From picture-in-picture (PIP) and 2:3 pull-down to the appropriate number of A/V inputs, we consider everything this product delivers to the consumer. A set that comes armed with a suitable number of inputs and basic features will earn a 5. Products with more inputs, individual input memories, or other extras will earn a better rating.
Performance
(40 percent of the total rating)
We consider picture quality to be the most-important criteria for displays, so we give it the most weight. A score of 5 represents a television that can produce a serviceable picture with only a reasonable amount of adjustment. Sets with a particularly sharp picture; rich, accurate color; deep black levels; and good video processing will earn a higher score.
What the numbers mean
9.6 to 10.0 = 5 stars (Spectacular):
This exceedingly rare score is reserved for a product that is as perfect as it could be.
9.0 to 9.5 = 4.5 stars (Outstanding):
A product that receives a rating in this range scores high on all of its rating criteria. It succeeds at meeting all of its intended users' needs and has no meaningful drawbacks.
8.0 to 8.9 = 4 stars (Excellent):
A product that receives a rating in this range is superior in so many ways that its relatively few drawbacks are not very important.
7.0 to 7.9 = 3.5 stars (Very good):
While the strengths of a product scoring in this range certainly outweigh its weaknesses, it has some minor faults that certain users should be aware of.
6.0 to 6.9 = 3 stars (Good):
This range represents a product that is above average. Its strengths slightly outweigh its weaknesses, making it good for most uses but not a standout.
5.0 to 5.9 = 2.5 stars (Average):
A product that scores in this range is functional but unremarkable.
4.0 to 4.9 = 2 stars (Mediocre):
Products in this range are below average. They fall in the middle of the pack for most features, but suffer from a few additional major flaws.
3.0 to 3.9 = 1.5 stars (Poor):
You probably should not consider a product in this range or lower. There may be one or two specialized circumstances, however, that could justify the purchase of this product for a very low price for a specific demand.
2.0 to 2.9 = 1 star (Terrible):
A product that receives a rating in this range scores low on all of its rating criteria. It does not satisfy any of its intended users' needs and has no meaningful strengths.
1.0 to 1.9 = 1/2 star (Abysmal):
A product in this range should never have been produced. This product has no redeeming qualities and worse, may actually harm you or your productivity.
0 - 0.9 = 0 stars
CNET editors' buying advice
We have not reviewed this product but here is CNET's buying advice on Flat-panel TVs. This content was chosen based on the features included with this model of flat-panel tv.
Recommended Viewing Distances
Wide-screen televisions showing high-resolution content and HDTV look better than regular sets, allowing you to sit closer and experience a more immersive, theaterlike picture.
With wide-screen sets showing DVD, Blu-ray or HDTV, you can sit as close as 1.5 times the screen's diagonal measurement and still not notice much of a loss in quality, while sitting farther away than three times the screen size means you're likely to miss out on the immersive feel. Here's a rundown of minimum and maximum recommended viewing distances for wide-screen sets.
16:9 TV diagonal screen size |
Min. viewing distance (in feet) |
Max. viewing distance (in feet) |
||||
50 |
6.3 |
12.5 |
||||
55 |
6.9 |
12.8 |
||||
Size and your room
Generally, 32-inch and smaller sets are great for bedrooms or guest rooms but too small for the main living room. Sets with bigger screens are large enough for the whole family to enjoy and will probably be too much for most small bedrooms.
If you're mounting the set inside an entertainment center, be sure it fits in every dimension; also, leave an inch or two on all sides so that the TV has enough ventilation. If you're getting a bigger set, you may want to consider a dedicated stand; many TV makers sell matching stands that increase the aesthetic appeal of their hefty boxes.
For additional information on screen sizes, please see CNET's Ultimate Buying Guide
See more 50' - 55' TVs products
Going "Green" with HDTV
In addition to considering screen size, TV type, and available features also consider ways to conserve energy. Below are a few energy consumption tips for your HDTV:
Turn the TV off when not in use.
Turn on the power-saver mode Many TVs these days come with a power-saver mode that's designed to cut down the power consumption. Performance of this mode varies from model to model, with the effect sometimes being drastic and other times providing only a slight savings. The only downside is that the power-saver mode usually makes the TV less bright, but we've found that sometimes this has a beneficial effect on the image quality, especially with the room lights turned off, in which case it's a win-win situation.
Turn down the LCD's backlight Many LCDs give you the ability to control the intensity of the backlight in the TV. By turning down the backlight, you'll lower power consumption, but also make the TV less bright. While retail stores love to turn the backlights up all the way for their displays, we find that we get the best image quality when we turn down the backlight significantly.
Control room lighting Reduction in the intensity of the backlight is going to make the TV less bright, but that can be compensated by controlling the light in your home theater room. While this may be a little overboard just for power consumption, limiting the light in your home theater also goes a long way toward creating the "theater" experience, as well as getting the most out of your TV.
And beyond TV concerns, good-quality blackout shades offer thermal benefits that keep other energy costs low; they keep heat in during the winter and keep it out during the summer.
Watch TV together Having multiple TVs in a house is more of a norm than a luxury these days, but that also means your power consumption is going to increase as well. You can cut that power consumption by watching with your family or housemates. You might need to make a few compromises on what you watch, but sometimes it's more fun to watch with friends and family.
Don't forget to properly recycle your old model If donating or repurposing your old TV is not a viable option, CNET encourages households to recycle their electronics. Please explore the following websites to find a recycling center in your area Electronics Take Back Coalition or Earth 911.
HDTV source resolutions
There are two main HD resolutions in use today by HD broadcasters and other sources: 1080i and 720p. One is not necessarily better than the other; 1080i has more lines and pixels, but 720p is a progressive-scan format that should deliver a smoother image that stays sharper during motion. Another format is also becoming better known: 1080p, which combines the superior resolution of 1080i with the progressive-scan smoothness of 720p. True 1080p content is extremely scarce, however, and none of the major networks have announced 1080p broadcasts. The term 1080p today appears mostly in reference to the displays' native resolution, not the source.
| Source resolution name | Resolution in pixels |
HDTV | Progressive scan | Widescreen | Networks/sources |
| 1080p | 1,920x1,080 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Blu-ray and future HD-DVD players; PlayStation 3 |
| 1080i | 1,920x1,080 | Yes | No | Yes | Includes CBS, NBC, PBS, DiscoveryHD/ Xbox 360 |
| 720p | 1,280x720 | Yes | Yes | Yes | ABC, Fox, ESPNHD |
| 480p | 852x480 | No | Yes | Yes | Fox wide-screen; progressive-scan DVD players |
| Regular TV | Up to 480 lines | No | No | No | All |
Despite the obvious difference in pixel count, 720p and 1080i both look great. In fact, unless you have a very large television and excellent source material, you'll have a hard time telling the difference between any of the HDTV resolutions. It's especially difficult to tell the difference between 1080i and 1080p sources. The difference between DVD and HDTV should be visible on most HDTVs, but especially on smaller sets, it's not nearly as drastic as the difference between standard TV and HDTV.
For more information on resolution, please read HDTV Resolution Explained
The truth about 1080p
In the last couple of years, there has been a big influx of HDTVs with 1080p native resolution, which typically cost a good deal more than their lower-resolution counterparts. But as we've been saying all along, once you get to high-def, the difference between resolutions becomes much more difficult to appreciate. We've done side-by-side tests between two 50-inch HDTVs, one with 1366x768 resolution (a.k.a. 720p) and the other with 1080p resolution, using the same 1080i and 1080p source material, and it was extremely difficult for us to see any difference. It becomes even more difficult at smaller screen sizes or farther seating distances--say, more than 1.5 times the diagonal measurement of the screen.
We're not telling you to ignore 1080p HDTVs. They technically do deliver more detail, which can enhance the viewing experience for more eagle-eyed viewers. Also, many manufacturers build other picture-quality benefits, such as better contrast and/or color, into their 1080p HDTVs simply because those sets are the high-end models. And given the continuing march of technology, we expect more and more 1080p models to become available at lower and lower prices. Today, however, the premium for 1080p is still pretty steep, and unless you're getting a very large set, say 55 inches or more, we don't recommend basing a buying decision on whether or not the television has 1080p native resolution.
For more information on resolution, please read HDTV Resolution Explained
See more 1080p HDTVs products
Understanding HDMI
HDMI stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interface, and that's a pretty good description of what it is. In layman's terms, HDMI is a type of digital connection that's capable of transmitting high-definition video and high-resolution audio over a single cable. To do the same thing with analog cables, you'd need to connect three component-video cables plus six analog audio cables--that's a whole lot of cable clutter.
HDMI can deliver the best image quality of any of the cable types available today. It can handle high-definition video of up to 1080p resolution at 60 frames per second, which is the most bandwidth-intensive video format currently available. The older PC-based DVI connection offers equivalent quality, but it is rarely available on HDTVs or video components these days. Component video is found on nearly all electronics that output high-def video, and its image quality is slightly lower than HDMI, but it's really difficult for most people to tell the difference. Many viewers are probably familiar with the quality associated with the various standard-definition video cables--namely S-Video, composite (the yellow video cable), and RF--and HDMI provides a potentially huge improvement over all of them. As always, however, the biggest factor in video quality is the source; a low-quality source delivered over HDMI will still look worse than a high-quality source over S-Video.
For audio, HDMI is the reigning king of quality as well. It supports the ability to carry eight channels of 24-bit audio at 192kHz--enough to handle even the highest resolution audio soundtracks such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. The only other connection type that can deliver the same quality are multichannel analog audio cables, but you'd need to run as many as eight separate cables to get the same quality. Digital audio cables--both optical and coaxial--can deliver multichannel audio, but are limited to lower-resolution audio signals.
For more information on HDMI, please read HDMI Quick Guide
See more HDMI (High-Definition) products products
User reviews
- Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 36 reviews
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"Excellent. The reference model for all future LCD's. Nevermind CNET."
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Where to buy
Sharp LC-52D92U:
$1,769.00 - $2,498.01
| store | price | in stock? | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
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Amazon.com
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$2,498.01 | Yes |
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$1,988.00 | No | Not yet rated |
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$2,388.06 | Yes |
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Second Act
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$1,799.99 | Yes |
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Refurb Depot
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$1,979.95 | Yes |
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