Sharp LC-32GP3U review

Finally got the newly release Sharp 32" 1080p (LC-32GP3U) today. After about 3 hours messing around with it, I'll give my initial thought on it.
Highlight Spec: 32" (1920x1080), HDMI 1.3 (xvYCC), 4 wave backlight, 6ms Grey-to-Grey, 10,000:1 Dynamite Constrast (2000:1 constant), Vyper Drive
The Press Release on this LCD mention of 24fps support for 1080p movies, but I don't see it mention on the menu. There is a film mode option, maybe that is the 24fps support.
This is perhap the best looking LCD-TV for a 32" display. It's slim in design and perhap the lightest 32" available (TV + Stand = 39.7lbs). The glossy black paint is top notch. The build is solid and nothing on this LCD looks cheap.
Unfortunately, the mounted bottom speaker is not detachable. It's only add about 3/4" to the LCD, so that's isn't so bad. It does make the LCD looks really nice with it.

The main reason i bought this LCD-TV is mostly for PC usage. How does a 32" with resolution of 1920x1080 display? Not bad at all.
I have to sit about 3-4 feets away from it. Text is bigger than anything you will see from any LCD for the computer. It's good for the eye, but you will see more flaw on the text with the sheer size of the pixel.
I can open 2 web browser side-by-side comfortably. For web browsing, reading emails or writing with MS Words, it's great.
The black level is awesome, colors is very vivid and bright. I have to tone down the backlight and contrast because it's too bright on default setting.
http://s258.photobucket.com/albums/h...urrent=web.jpg
What this LCD-TV really shine is gaming!!! It's the most incredible experience when you play PC games (COD4, GoW, Crysis, UT3) due to 32" of viewing at 1080p. With my Q6600 and 8800GTX, all games run smooth with high quality setting.
The 6ms handle games with ease with very little noticable (or barely at all) lag. With V-syn trun off, screen tearing is not that bad. Perhap the fast response time of this LCD does help.
As for consoles gaming, I do have the Xbox360 and PS3. I'll hook it up some other time. I'm sure it looks great on it since it is design for console gaming. If anyone have any question on it, I be glad to test it for you.
Overall, it's a great all around LCD. You can use it as PC display, watch TV/Movies with hi-definition and play consoles games. What else can you ask for

is the ugly speaker bar removable?

Originally Posted by Blahman

is the ugly speaker bar removable?

first post says...

Originally Posted by duckymcse

Unfortunately, the mounted bottom speaker is not detachable. It's only add about 3/4" to the LCD, so that's isn't so bad. It does make the LCD looks really nice with it.

thanks but he added that info after I posted.

wow nice thread

I was actually looking at this model

when you get around to hooking it up to a console (ps3 ) post some pics if you would. Also does it have an audio out or headphone jack?

thanks

Originally Posted by Blahman

is the ugly speaker bar removable?

Unfortunately, no.

wonder how this would do head to head against my 37" 1080p Westinghouse LVM-37w3se.

does the panel have a glossy or matte coating?

Originally Posted by Michigan PC

wow nice thread

I was actually looking at this model

when you get around to hooking it up to a console (ps3 ) post some pics if you would. Also does it have an audio out or headphone jack?

thanks

There is audio output using AV audio cable (red and white).
There is a headphone jack at Input #7. But it only for VGA connection.
Is there a way to upload the pics directly from hardforum?

i recommend photobucket for easy/free image uploading and hosting. they have a batch uploader that works great. once everything is uploaded you can select all (multiple sub albums are handy for this) and click "generate HTML links" and then paste the output into the forums for lots of images with thumbnails or whatever.

edit: noticed you're already using photobucket, lol... but yeah try the bulk uploader and generate code tools, very useful

oh yeah, handy tip for viewing 2 windows side by side.

on the taskbar, hold ctrl and right click the other window and do "show windows side by side" (vista) or "tile windows horizontally" (xp/2k)

Your new Sharp looks great! How high does it sit on its stand? Do you find yourself looking up at it when you sit in front of it?

thanks for prompt answers

but ya pics of games and jacks would be great whenever you get to it.

Originally Posted by Blahman

wonder how this would do head to head against my 37" 1080p Westinghouse LVM-37w3se.

does the panel have a glossy or matte coating?

I don't know, 37" is way too big for PC usage. Even at 32" looks big already.
I only sit like 3.5 feet away.
I think it use matte coating. Definitely not glossy for sure.

Originally Posted by Mr. Wolf

Your new Sharp looks great! How high does it sit on its stand? Do you find yourself looking up at it when you sit in front of it?

No, at 3.5 feet away, I barely need to move my head to read from top to bottom and left to read. Oh, the text is very readable.
Unlike the 30" Dell, I have to be like 1 feet away to read the text. I got really dizzy with the Dell 30", but not this one.

Here is a pic of NBA08 running at 1080p.
Picture does not do it justice. You have to see it in motion to really appreciate it.
Even at 1080p, during gameplay appear to be 60fps to me. Everythings looks sharp and smooth. Except when closup on the players, it does slow down a bit.

http://s258.photobucket.com/albums/h...rent=nba08.jpg

Originally Posted by Michigan PC

wow nice thread

when you get around to hooking it up to a console (ps3 )


thanks

How does this monitor handle blue on black text? I my GP1U makes it look like ass

I don't know how yours look. Wish I can see an example of it.
On my, I use MS Word typing with black text and highlight it with blue background. I don't see any problem with it. I can see the black text well.

Originally Posted by MooMooCow

How does this monitor handle blue on black text? I my GP1U makes it look like ass

After i get a 42 inch tv for my room i might need to pick one of these up... how much did it run you??

Originally Posted by sethk

• How does it look with a full black screen? Is it pretty uniform or do you see any banding / non-uniformity?
• Do you see any dimming / brightening effects on the background (for example a mostly black background such as the hardforum webpage in full screen mode) if you open a full white window and resize it from very small to increasingly large? Does the background change in brightness / color?
• How is the gaming? Do you notice any input lag or any strange effects when gaming? (Hopefully not since the 32GP1U got this right.)

Exciting to hear a review on this display. Above are some questions raised by sethk on a parallel thread...

how much is this display??

~$1150 at amazon.com