Sharp Aquos LC-32XL8E review

Sharp Aquos LC-32XL8E Review

Reviewed by: Ian Morris

Reviewed on: 23 September 2008

Obviously, gamers love 1080p screens for their ultra-high resolution, so we grabbed the PS3 and fired up Ridge Racer 7, a full 1080p game, to test it out. We weren't disappointed by what we saw at all. The TV had masses of detail, and if you're sitting close to it in a small room, it's quite a fantastic experience. The Sharp also has a refresh rate fast enough to make sure the action doesn't blur with fast motion.

Blu-ray movies, such as Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, looked great too. There's a rich colour on the Sharp that we really rather liked. The 1080/24p support also makes this a good TV for watching films, even though it's reasonably small.

Sound was also more impressive than we expected, with the two 10W speakers doing a good job of projecting speech and even low-end bass. Of course, there are always improvements to be had by using a sound bar for other external speaker systems.

Conclusion
Some people, mostly gamers, want to have 1080p TVs no matter what size. The simple fact is that there really isn't much difference between 720p and 1080p on panels this size. That said, gaming on this screen was a pleasure, and it will certainly please gamers who want to immerse themselves in some 1080p action.

There are cheaper 32-inch LCDs around, and an increasing number are 1080p capable, too. We think one of the best we've seen is the Philips 32PFL9603, which also adds the coolness of a two-sided Ambilight into the mix, another plus for gamers. But this Sharp is certainly worth a look.

Edited by Marian Smith