Hitachi 32LD9700 review

This technology is supported by Hitachi's Picture Master Engine, an image-processing system that individually analyses over a billion colours to create more realistic tones and gradations.

The WXGA (1,366x768-pixel) panel is HD Ready and will display both 720p and 1080i high-definition formats -- you won't be able to display the latest 1080p format used by Blu-ray and some HD DVD players. 1080i signals will be downscaled to fit, but the difference is negligible.

The future-proof specification is completed by an integrated Freeview tuner with a seven-day electronic programme guide and a CI card slot for receiving subscription channels from Top Up TV.

The concise menu system may not appear elaborate, but there's an exhaustive range of advanced picture and sound settings that let you fine-tune images to your exact preferences.

Typical picture presets and custom settings are supported by secondary adjustments for backlight control, colour management, signal enhancement and noise reduction. Sound options are equally abundant, with the inclusion of a pseudo-surround SRS system and TruBass low-frequency enhancer.

With so many options available, setting up the system can seem overwhelming. But not all adjustments have a great effect on the image, and we found that the default settings only required slight tinkering before we were pleased with the image.

Interactive adjustments are joined by a few useful features such as Picture Freeze and Picture Strobe, which basically shows images frame-by-frame if you want to analyse a sporting technique, for example.

There's also a Multi-Picture Mode that lets you view up to four images at a time using split screens -- so you can keep an eye on what else is on without missing the current programme.

The weighty remote's central cursor is solid and responsive, while controls are spaciously arranged and easy to use

Performance
If space is limited or your room has irregular seating positions then Hitachi's 32LD9700 could be for you, as you can watch from almost any angle without a massive drop in quality. Even when you sit to the far side of the screen, images still appear poised and cohesive.

The system may not equal the expansive viewing angles afforded by large-screen plasmas, but it holds the edge against equivalent-sized LCDs, like Toshiba's 32WLT68, and is certainly among the widest we've seen.

With the right adjustments, picture quality is fairly impressive. Playing the colourful Talladega Nights using Denon's DVD-1930 upscaling player produced exceptionally well-balanced images with plenty of vitality and realism, using natural tones and subtle gradations. The adrenaline-fuelled action of the racing cars was rendered smooth and smear-free.

But given the assertions made by Hitachi about the technology, we expected more distinct black levels and deeper contrast.

The picture at the edges isn't as well defined as on leading LCDs such as the Philips 37PF9731D, especially when watching Freeview broadcasts.

Occasional instability can affect backgrounds and same-colour expanses, even using high-definition sources such as Sky HD.

Sound quality seems to echo at times, but the substantial speakers produce a weighty sound that doesn't distort at high volumes -- although like practically all LCDs, the speakers struggle when watching films.

Edited by Jason Jenkins
Additional editing by Nick Hide