I’ve owned the Sharp Aquos LC37GP1U LCD Gaming HDTV since March and overall, I’ve been very impressed with it. The LC37GP1U was designed specifically for gaming with a feature called the “Viper Drive”, which reduces lag and response times associated with LCDs to imperceptible levels.

Having recently bought a PS3 to make full use of this feature, I can say that the Viper Drive works as advertised, even in full 1080P resolution. This feature minimizes the processing that occurs when the set receives its signal via HMDI, similar to a pass through that allows the picture to be displayed faster. The low 6 second response time of the LCD also helps in that regard.

Samsung offers a similar gaming mode but my understanding is that it only reduces lag by about 30 percent.

Speaking of the PS3, Sony seems to have rebounded from a slow start now that a slew of quality games and content is available. The best is certainly yet to come next year when triple A titles like GTA IV and Metal Gear Solid is released. I think it will ultimately be very successful in the coming years.

The Specs:

• 1920 x 1080 resolution
• 450 cd/m^2 brightness
• 1,700:1 Native Contrast Ratio
• 8,500:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio
• 176 degree viewing angle
• 4-wavelength backlight
• 6 ms response time
• ATSC, NTSC, QAM tuners built-in
• 3 HDMI inputs (1080p compatible); 1 side, 2 rear
• 2 component inputs (1080p compatible); 1 side, 1 rear
• DVI-I input (1080p compatible)
• 1 S-video input
• 3 composite video inputs; 1 side, 2 rear
• 1 RF (coax) input
• 1 digital audio output
• speakers 10 W + 10 W; non-removable, bottom mounted

Aesthetically, the 37GP1U looks bad ass with its sleek minimalist design and blacked out glossy finish, accented tastefully with a sliver of chrome. It appears as though Sharp took design cues from Sony’s PS3, which is apropos since this is Sharp’s first set designed specifically for gaming.

On the TV side, I currently have SD DirecTV service and an indoor HD antenna. I’m still deciding on which DirecTV HD package to choose from but the antenna picks up more than a dozen HD channels and the reception is very good.

The TV’s built in audio is not bad but I think most people would opt for a separate sound system. The set also has an audio out for a separate subwoofer to supplement the built in stereo speakers. I have mine connected to an Aiwa stereo system and it sounds great.

After 9 months of regular use, I have not had any problems with this set. The LCD panel is flawless with zero stuck pixels and the backlighting is very even, although it appears stronger on the lower left and right sides of the panel when viewed at an angle.

It does even out when viewed closer to front and center, but I suppose that’s an inherent limitation of current LCD technology. I can certainly live with it.

The only other complaint is the unwieldy size of the remote. It’s functional and the backlighting works well, but flipping a cover to access certain buttons to me seems unnecessary.

I should also mention that the set needs to be tweaked and calibrated for color since the factory settings are not accurate. Sharp is known for their red hue push, so I would recommend taking the time to make proper adjustment. A calibration DVD would certainly help.

Now for some screen shots. These were taken on a tripod using a Canon 20D DSLR.

One thing I noticed about HD is that the differences in color and fidelity varies greatly from channel to channel, even within the same program.

I don’t think it’s possible for a single setting to cover the whole gamut. Skin tones look natural on one channel or a particular show, then bam! It looks like crap on another.

Miss USA on Letterman.

Close up of Barbara Streisand at 100% crop. Papa can you see my pores?

NBC has very good HD content. It was difficult to freeze the screen since Tarantino moves around a lot. He’s pretty hyper.

Standard definition DirecTV via s-video cable using the set’s smart stretch mode. It’s not bad, but the colors are muted and much of the detail is lost with interpolation. There are some noticeable artifacts from time to time.

Here’s the 37GP1U connected to a Macintosh G4 tower, currently running my OS X Server which is serving this page.

The G4 has an old Nvidia Geforce 2 card but it’s good enough for full 1920 by 1080 connected via DVI to HMDI. The first time I saw this angels sang Hallelujah as my jaw dropped. Incredible.

Full 1080P is just awesome and so worth the money. Just to get an idea of the resolution, here’s a trailer of the movie 300 in 720P.

Lots of screen real estate in programs like Photoshop.

Full 1920 by 1080 dot to dot resolution at 60HZ.

Gotta love Apple’s OSX. It automatically recognizes the panel as a Sharp via HDMI. Set up Colorsync once to create a calibrated profile and you’re ready to roll.

All in all, the LC37GPU1 met my expectations and I’m very happy with the purchase. I would highly recommend it, especially for gamers.

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