Super test: 37in LCD TVs

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Overview Price comparison: Philips 37PF9631D More info: Philips Size: 991(w) x 707(h) x 114(d)mm Weight (inc stand): 26kg Native aspect ratio: 16:9 Claimed max contrast ratio: 7000:1 Claimed max brightness: 550cd/m2 Connections: Two HDMIs, component video input, electrical digital audio input, two Scarts, S-Video input, USB input, composite video input, stereo audio inputs, CAM slot for subscription TV channels, VGA PC input, PC audio input, RF jack Philips 37PF9631D First, the bad news. The 37PF9631D is, at £1,300, fairly comfortably the most expensive TV in this group test. But we think it's worth every penny, and here's why. For starters, it looks dreamy thanks to its superbly robust finish, and the cute pools of coloured light that spill from its sides thanks to Philips' unique Ambilight technology. Then there's its connectivity, which includes twin HDMIs, a PC port, a component video input and even a USB port for playing image files. But where the 37PF9631D really stands out is with its features list. We've already mentioned Ambilight, for instance, but more important are its digital tuner and Pixel Plus 2 HD image processing - a technology we know from experience is capable of adding superb amounts of clarity and sharpness to HD and standard def sources alike. The set's onscreen menus are also awash with zillions of other little tricks and treats for you to play with - far too many to cover here, in fact, as we want to use what space is left to tell you how amazingly good the 37PF9631D's pictures are. For instance, thanks to Pixel Plus 2, HD pictures look so sharp they could cut diamonds, and standard definition pictures are sometimes raised to a level approaching high definition. Outstanding. Colours are incredibly intense too, while also for the most part being pretty natural in tone, and dark areas of pictures benefit from impressively deep black levels. With the TV also handling motion well and sounding great, the only small niggles we can muster are that there are one or two rival LCD sets out there with wider colour ranges, and that Pixel Plus 2 can slightly emphasise any MPEG decoder noise in really low quality digital broadcasts. Otherwise, it's all good. Very good. Verdict Plus points Stunning picture quality, great design, reams of features Minus points Not cheap, picture processing can struggle with really poor source material

Overview Price comparison: Samsung LE-37R74BD More info: Samsung Size: 991.5(w) x 713(h) x 326(d)mm Weight (inc stand): 22.8kg Native aspect ratio: 16:9 Claimed max contrast ratio: 5000:1 Claimed max brightness: 500cd/m2 Connections: HDMI input, component video input, S-Video input, composite video input, stereo audio inputs, PC input, headphone jack, two Scarts (one RGB), tuner input Samsung LE-37R74BD If a TV's quality could be decided on looks alone, we could just award this Samsung the group test crown and all go home for an early tea. It really is that good looking in its high gloss black finish and sexy, triangular metallic underside. However, things look rather less appealing on the TV's rear as we spot only one HDMI socket - not really enough in this day and age. Good job the TV does at least provide a PC jack and component video inputs alongside the other more basic findings common to practically every TV. Plus there's a digital audio output so you can pipe out Dolby Digital 5.1 broadcast soundtracks to an AV receiver. This means, of course, that the 37R74BD carries a built-in digital tuner. It also carries Samsung's Digital Natural Image engine video processing aimed at boosting the usual suspects of contrast, colour resolution, motion and sharpness; can be watched from an unusually wide angle without the picture deteriorating; and sports a special Game mode that reduces the set's response time while playing console games. For much of the time the 37R74BD is a stellar performer. With high definition in particular its aggressively vibrant, sharp images ooze confidence from every pore, while black levels look deep and detailed enough to ensure that even dark scenes look full of scale and depth. But the set is also above par with standard definition sources - at least provided those sources aren't too ropey in the first place. The only issues we have with this Samsung's performance is that it tends to smear motion a touch, occasionally over-cooks colours during really intense scenes, and lacks a little audio oomph.

Verdict Plus points Beautifully designed, plenty of features, frequently excellent pictures, good price Minus points Only one HDMI, colours look a bit OTT occasionally, motion smearing with standard definition

Overview Price comparison: Sharp LC-37GD8E More info: Sharp Size: 926(w) x 644(h) x 120(d)mm Weight (inc stand): 23kg Native aspect ratio: 16:9 Claimed max contrast ratio: 1200:1 Claimed max brightness: 450cd/m2 Connections: Two Scarts (both RGB), HDMI input, VGA/component video input; S-Video input; composite video input; stereo audio inputs; headphone socket Sharp LC-37GD8E With Sharp on the verge of launching its hot-looking new XD1E LCD range, there's some good news on its current LCD sets, the GD8Es. Basically, they're getting cheaper. So much so, in fact, that the 37GD8E is now just £850 from an 'at launch' price of over £1,300. Nice. Also nice in a quiet sort of way are the 37GD8E's silver and black looks. But the set does take the edge off its otherwise good first impressions with a couple of unhelpful connection compromises. First up, there's only one HDMI input. And second, a single VGA cable is expected to double up for PC and component video duties. Features aren't in especially abundant supply, but the set does at least boast a digital tuner, a black level booster and, unusually, the option to switch between interlaced and progressive picture reproduction. With high definition the LC-37GD8E makes a striking first impression by proving capable of displaying some serious detail. And thanks to some good noise reduction processing, this detail is achieved without the picture looking overtly grainy. Enhancing the sharpness still more is the fact that the panel has a very quick response time, meaning it shows motion smoothly and cleanly. Colour is also well rendered, with rich hues, and a blast of digital TV from the built-in tuner looks remarkably solid, with little picture noise. A good action movie scene, meanwhile, reveals no serious issues with the 37GD8E's speakers. The set does have one fairly serious limitation, though - its black levels aren't great. Dark areas are rather flattened and obscured by a sort of blue undertone that makes dark scenes look noticeably less natural then bright ones.

Verdict Plus points Good looking, great price, decent pictures in many ways Minus points Only one HDMI, black level issues, shared PC/component video input

Overview Price comparison: Toshiba 37WLT68 More info: Toshiba Size: 916(w) x 676(h) x 298(d)mm Weight (inc stand): 24.4kg Native aspect ratio: 16:9 Claimed max contrast ratio: 3500:1 Claimed max brightness: 500cd/m2 Connections: Three HDMI inputs, component video input, two Scarts (one RGB), composite video input, VGA PC input, stereo audio input, digital tuner input, PC audio input, subwoofer line out, CAM slot, digital audio output Toshiba 37WLT68 Having notched up considerable critical success with previous LCD ranges, Toshiba launches its new '68' range to a very expectant audience. And it makes a suitably positive first impression, thanks to some glamorous looks and, uniquely for this group test, three HDMIs among its connections roster. What's more, these HDMIs can take premium 1080p HD sources, and are joined by, among other things, a component video input, a PC input, a subwoofer line out and a Dolby Digital audio output. This latter connection immediately alerts us to the presence in the 37WLT68 of a digital TV tuner - but that's not its main feature claim to fame. That honour goes to Active Vision M100, a new video processing system that builds on Toshiba's standard Active Vision system (for boosting colours, black levels and detailing) with a new M100 element that doubles the image scanning rate from the normal 50Hz to 100Hz. Why do this? Because it should drastically reduce LCD technology's traditional problems with motion blur. And actually, that's exactly what happens. With M100 activated, action-packed stuff like a Premiership football match really does look cleaner and crisper than is common with LCD. Excellent. Other great stuff finds high definition pictures looking sensationally detailed and sharp; dark areas of the picture containing more subtle shadow detailing than is common; good handling of most types of video noise; and colours combining outstanding vibrancy with natural tones and impressive subtlety. We do have one or two issues with the 37WLT68, though. The worst is that although dark picture areas look detailed, black levels aren't as deep as we'd like. Also, while HD images look impeccably sharp, standard definition ones look softer than we're entirely comfortable with, and the image's aggressive qualities can occasionally emphasise blocking noise in digital broadcasts.

Verdict Plus points Three HDMI inputs, great colours, very detailed HD pictures, great motion handling Minus points Not particularly cheap, black levels could be deeper, standard definition pictures can look a touch cheap

Final verdict Two very positive general facts leap out at us from this group test straight away. First, it's amazing - again - how fast prices for large LCD TVs are plummeting. Second, it's good to see that the picture quality available on LCD TVs continues to improve apace across pretty much the whole price spectrum. But as well as these welcome general observations it's definitely possible to discern some sort of performance pecking order in our eight-strong collection, particularly when you get near the top. The weakest model we've featured has to be the Acer. This was probably inevitable given how amazingly cheap it is - and in fact it's by no means bad for something so affordable. But there's just no getting around the fact that its pictures are simply the least able in this group test. You're pretty much looking at a tie for the 5th/6th/7th spots, between the Hitachi, JVC and Sharp models. While each of these models has one or two really standout qualities, they also each have a specific glitch or two sufficiently severe to force you to think twice before parting with your hard-earned cash. It's similarly difficult to decide between the Samsung, Toshiba and LG models for our 2nd, 3rd and 4th spots. If you really pushed us we'd probably just about put the Samsung in 4th largely on account of it only having a single HDMI, the Toshiba in third since although it has three HDMIs its black levels are a touch disappointing; and the LG in second for its fine balance of good connectivity, good HD pictures, and aggressive price. Tough though it may be to pick between some of our sets though, there can be no doubt about our overall group test winner - the Philips 37PF9641D. Yes, we know this is the most expensive set we've featured. But in terms of features and, above all, performance, it's in a class of its own, making it worth every solitary penny.

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