Home > Consumer Reviews > Hannspree Xv HT09 - 28" LCD TV - widescreen - 1080p (FullHD) - HDTV

I was in the market for a 32 inch HDTV for the bedroom. After measuring my entertainment center, I realized that a 32 inch was slightly too large and would not fit. I was extremely disappointed and did not want to spend $500 on a 26 incher. I'm so happy I found this set. A little larger than a 26, full 1080p clear picture and only $400. Perfect for any bedroom, plus I hooked up my spare computer to the included PC connection and I stream online tv episodes from my bed with the help of a wireless keyboard and mouse.

At first glance, this should be a great versatile unit. As a TV, it should play back full 1080p (16:9 aspect ratio). However, the widescreen display is less than optimal for use as a monitor, so the ability to display 1920 x 1200 (16:10 aspect ratio) should have made this perfect for double duty.

However, there's a major issue in the design. A 16:9 signal on a 16:10 set should have black bars at top and bottom, but this set doesn't automatically do that. It fills the screen unless there's a key in the signal to force 16:9. Since the widescreen standard aspect ratio is 16:9, this means that an image will be vertically streched to 16:10 unless there's a key in the signal to force 16:9. I quickly discovered that many 16:9 signals don't have the key to control the display, and that I was forced to watch vertically distorted images, including those from the TV's built-in tuner. The simple solution would have been for Hannspree to have included a 16:9 aspect ratio that would force the display to normal 16:9 widescreen, and all would have been well. Unfortunately, in what has to be one of the silliest design decisions I've heard of, they didn't do it. After wrestling with this TV, and confirming with Hannspree customer service that there is no way for the TV to avoid vertically stretched displays unless it's forced to do so by the incoming signal, this one is going back.

It seems like common sense that a TV that uses an non-standard aspect ratio would be able to display the current standard widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9 for any signal, but common sense doesn't apply. This set will force many 16:9 images into 16:10, causing vertical distortion of the picture. That's just wrong.

Received from J&R Electronics in 2 Days $399.99 Free shipping. Works excellent, GREAT PC MONITOR, TV, & PS2 game monitor. I do recomend upgrading the cables. Use DVI/to HDMI for PC hookup set to HDMI-1, Use Sony component video/audio cables set to component-1 for PS2/3. and get a HiDef cable box and use a HDMI cable set it to HDMI-2. These cables can be found on Amazon (NOT BESTBUY) very reasonably priced (SHOP!) they will improve picture quality for everything you hook up to the TV. I don't get some of the problems some people have (READ the manuals)learn how to improve your picture, try different settings or customize to your liking. This isn't Rocket science. It's plug&play. For PC's upgrade you Video cards (NVIDIA) & wires it's simple

I confess to a degree of suspicion when I saw the oddball size -- EXACTLY what I needed -- and the low price point, but with Amazon's return policy figured I'd at least give it a shot. It's in my home office and I watch it from a viewing distance of about seven feet.

Great picture, great sound, great value! The perfect TV for my home office. I highly recommend this LCD HDTV. Thank you!

I had a 32 720 in my BD and it was a little too big and not that great of a picture. I saw this Hannspree on a shopping channel and it looked like the prefect size for my BD. I just got it a few days ago and I love it! The picture is great as well as the sound. Overall a great TV!