Sharp LC-AD5 Series LCD TV (20", 26", 32", 37", 42")

Well-balanced colors; The LC-42 AD 5 E's contrast is very high indeed

1080p images are not accepted; Unconvincing reproduction of full HD material

This Sharp is best equipped for daytime TV viewing, and the picture has convincing contrast. Processing HDTV material is, however, beyond the capabilities of both the screen and the electronics.

Looks great ; Competitive price ; Quality pictures - whether Hi or standard def

Poorly designed EPG ; Restrictive viewing angle

The 32AD5E's viewing angle is severely limited. If you watch from even as little as 30° off-axis - something various family members will have to do at regular intervals in most households - the image loses bags of contrast and colour saturation. And...

Strong picture performance ; Nice price ; Little motion blur

Basic feature set ; Poor black levels ; Frustrating viewing angle

An additional strength of the LC32AD5E is the way that it compensates for the occasional weak colour tone with some really intense, vibrant saturations

Very aggressively priced ; Pictures occasionally look impressive ; Well designed

Onscreen menus are hard to read ; Colours can be weird ; Black level problems

Conclusion The Sharp Aquos LC32AD5E is clearly a product that's been compromised by a need to hit a specific low price point. But while this means it doesn't offer the performance to become a serious AV fan's main TV, it's still not bad by budget...

There are certainly one or two tell-tale signs in the LC32AD5E's performance that reveal its budget status, and you have to be careful how you set it up if you want to get the best out of it. But its imperfections certainly aren't big enough to stop it...

Fair price, pictures good at times, nicely designed

Messy onscreen menus, colour tone problems, black levels tricky to get right

It is hard to dislike Sharp's LC32AD5E as it puts in a solid performance in all areas, and is one of the best budget LCD TV's on the market. There are no Achilles heals, although the overall performance left us a little flat.

image quality, value for money, sound, usability, connectivity

84% of reviews on Amazon.co.uk give this product a positive rating.

My set lasted a month longer than the warranty before developing horizontal coloured lines. With the retailer bankcrupt and Sharp refusing to answer my letters I have had to replace the set at my expense. If you believe a television should last longer...