NZ9E's Full Review: Sharp LC-15S5U 15 in. EDTV-Ready TV
The Sharp "AQUOS" LC15S5U 15" LCD TV Receiver is a well-made, compact 15" LCD TV set that can be used in areas where other 15" TV sets simply won't fit. Most of the offerings in this screen size class have the stereo speakers on the sides of the set, making them several inches wider than the LC15S5U (which is just under 14-3/4" wide) and that tends to limit where they can be placed in an environment such as in the typical kitchen. In the LC15S5U the speakers are along the bottom of the display panel instead. In our own case, we have the perfect spot in our kitchen but it wouldn't accommodate the 20+ inch footprint needed by other 15" LCD sets on the market, so we were lead into buying the LC15S5U more or less by default. That turned out to be a blessing, however, since the LC15S5U is a very well designed set that uses Sharp's proprietary LCD panel (with its black TFT display and low reflectivity coating), allowing this set to produce a very contrasty picture even during the brightest daytime hours, just right for a typical kitchen atmosphere.
The LC15S5U is what Sharp terms their EDTV line of HD ready TV receivers (EDTV stands for Enhanced Definition Television). That means that when FCC mandated digital over-the-air TV signals become mandatory on February 17, 2009, the LC15S5U will be ready to receive the best looking DTV pictures possible, via an add-on digital converter box, because of it's Y, Pb and Pr component inputs. The set actually has 3 video input positions, so that it can also be referred to as a "Monitor", but just one will accept component video. The second video input will accept either "S-Video" or video and audio via three RCA phono jacks. The third video input is interesting and little different - it can be used either as a video/audio input via three RCA phono jacks, or it can be an audio output (left and right channel) that can then be fed to an external stereo audio system. It's somewhat unique and the selection is all done via software in the setup menu. It's also a feature that isn't well defined in the literature for the LC15S5U. I wanted access to audio outputs for a separate amplifier/speaker system that I use with the set, but was unable to find out anything about audio outputting from this set until I bought it. It also has a headset output on the front panel and even that wasn't stated in the ads and other reviews for this set.
So there it is, everything that I wanted and needed in a compact, modern LCD TV receiver/monitor in one nicely packaged unit. Great picture, video/audio inputs and audio only outputs, easy to use menu system and nicely a laid-out handheld remote control, all in one compact TV set. The manual leaves a bit to be desired in it's explanations of some things, but that's not unique to this TV set. Many of the product manuals are either incomplete or difficult to follow these days. I've given the LC15S5U 4 stars, even though it probably deserves 4-1/2 stars if that were possible to do.
Outside Dimensions:
14-39/64" wide x 15" high x 8-53/64" deep (TV and Stand).
14-39/64" wide x 13-1/2" high x 3-29/32" deep (TV only).
Weight:
9.5 lbs. (TV and Stand)
7.9 lbs.(TV only).
Also includes a removable (via 4 machine screws) carrying handle.
This Countertopsize Edtv Shows Movies And Programming In Crystalline Clarity With 640x480 Pixels Of Resolution And A Brilliant 15" Lcd Screen. 4 3 Asp...More at Target
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