HP have a range of three High Definition LCD TV’s including the 1080p LC4276N (42 inch) and LC4776N (47 inch) and the 37 inch, 720p LC3772N. Apart from dimensions and resolution the specifications for the three HP LCDs are nearly identical. In fact, the LC4276N and LC4776N are also the basis for the HP MediaSmart TV range with its next generation integrated multimedia capabilities.

All three LCDs have excellent 500 cd/m² (nits) brightness of for the typical home viewing situation. The contrast ratios for all are respectable compared to other market offerings at 1200:1 for the LC4276N and LC4776N and 1000:1 for the LC3772N. An integrated ATSC/NTSC/clear QAM Tuner allows the TVs to receive HD and digital shows from off air sources and cable. The 176 degree viewing angle is certainly suitable for home viewing. The LCD screen has a low reflection TFT coating to reduce reflected light – an advantage for high ambient light viewing situations.

The fast 6 ms response time is something avid gamers should note as a faster response time reduces the likelihood of motion blur (trail left behind moving object) which LCDs are more prone to than CRTs or Plasmas as their liquid crystals take longer to shift between states. Some companies are combating motion blur by boosting the video processing power and increasing the refresh rate to something like 120Hz. Sony call their higher refresh rate technology Motion Flow, Toshiba has ClearFrame, LG – TruMotion Drive and JVC call it Clear Motion Drive II.

Motion bur aside, HP have put considerable thought into their video processing engine supplying a 3D Digital Comb Filter, HP Visual Fidelity Engine, 3D Color Enrichment, Video Noise Reduction, Photorealistic Sharpness Enhancement, film mode processing (3:2 Pull Down) and a Motion-adaptive deinterlacer. The HP Visual Fidelity Engine includes:

• Adaptive Contrast Enhancement – automatically adjusts picture contrast for each scene
• Adaptive Color Saturation – automatically adjusts color intensity
  depending on picture brightness removing color noise
• Dynamic 3D Color-gamut Mapping – Optimization of color selection for natural-looking colors
• Advanced Edge Enhancement – smoothes out jagged edges for a sharper picture

HP state that their fluorescent backlight lasts 60,000 hours – which they point out is twenty-three years at 7 hours/day viewing. It sounds impressive and similar bulb lives are claimed by other manufacturers but, consider that at this time the lamp luminance is 50% of what it was when the TV was purchased. Also, the amount of color drift that has occurred and the contrast ratio will probably have a greater influence on viewer perception of the image quality than luminance. While it’s nice to know the fluorescent tube will likely not need replacement during the life of the set, remember that the life of an LCD TV is going to be something like 7 – 10 years before which advances like 3D television without special glasses will make it obsolete anyway.

HP’s LCD TVs can be wall mounted using the optional Vantage Point 200 mm Flat LCD Mount.

Warranty

All three HP high definition LCD TVs come with a one-year limited with in-home repair warranty. The in-home repair will appeal to many. Optional extended warranties of two or three years are available. HP have put some effort into providing a flexible after sales support system which they call “Total Care”. Total Care enables HP television owners to have product questions answered all hours, toll-free or by e-mail in as little time as an hour at HP TotalCare.

HP LC4276N, LC4776N 1080p and LC3772N 720p High Definition LCD TVs Specification

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