Home > Consumer Reviews > Sharp LC46XD1E - 46" Widescreen Full HD 1080P LCD TV - With Freeview

On the whole I have been happy with this TV (owned for 2 years). It has a good HD picture quality.

However, the reason for this review is to point out a flaw in the software which is responsible for the freeview setup.

I live in the Border TV region which is the first to go through the digital switchover. On switchover day the TV would not install any of the new digital channels (picked them all up before the switchover day but the set up changed on switchover day.

I immediately contacted Sharp who said that the TV needed a software upgrade and they would arrange for an engineer to attend to carry this out (fortunately I had a 3 year warranty as result of a promotion when I purchased the TV). The enginner duly arrived and upgraded the software but the TV would still not install any digital channels.

The latest I have heard is that they haven't sorted the problem and don't know when they will. I have given them 28 days to come up with a solution - either a fix that works OR a replacement TV.

Fortunately, I have a Humax Foxsat freesat system so I can get most of the channels I want.

However, a major electronic company such as Sharp who have known (or should have known) about the changes and not be prepared is very disappointing. What is more surprising is that I have another Sharp TV, consirably older, which has undergone the digital switchover with no problems.

BTW: The enginner that came out told me that the problem isn't confined to Sharp - Sony and Panasonic models also suffer from these problems.

PLEASE make sure that if you are buying a digital because of the digital switchover you get a guarantee that it will work after the digital switchover date for your area as the installation will change significantly on that date.

this tv was purchased online for £1400 back in April, and at todays price makes it a bargain for 1080p at 46" screen size. i have to say at the time i was looking at the current samsung,sony w and x models which were a lot more money and only 40" screens.
this tv is connected to sky hd which gives a great pics on footie etc and movies come with 5.1 sound also.

also upscaling dvd player which again produces good results even when playing low res divx movies.

the ps3 is fantastic in blu ray and the lcd is a fantastic monitor for games something the pioneer isnt.also connected to an amp and surround brings it to another level.

as with many lcds the standard def can be average to awful but hey you are buying it for digital inputs arent you??

great tv at a great price with no niggles.... buy it

and just seen the newer model thinner and still looks sweet out of the box and even better hanging on your wall.

I have read all the reviews on here and thought i had to give my 2 cents worth.
This sharp aquos as with all the aquos range is fantastic.This tv was designed and built with the future in mind not like all the other 720p garbage on the market.minus pioneer of coarse but i dont want to spend £5000 on a tv do you!
HI-DEF thats what this tv is all about,ps3,xbox 360,sky hd,dont own any of these dont buy it its simple,stick with you portable analogue 14" tv for your vhs and 5 standard aerial channels,one word of warning thou as normal tv is getting swithed off as we speak not a lot of point really.VHS are not made anymore either so stop living in the past if you bought this tv are moaning about it.
This tv will not make you standard bbc channel high def why cant people understand this it makes my blood boil how ignorant people can be.
If you dont understand new technology dont buy it,simple.

this tv is great with 1080p input thats where it stands out.but normally tv is dreadful,colours are washed out and definition very poor.I read several reviews before i purchased thinking i had done my research i was lamentably wrong.U really need to decide what you will use tv for...if its for everyday tv---then dont be sold on the 1080p concept cos u will be sickeningly sadden as to where your money has gone,Id recommend samsung lcd 1080p versions over this or if u want a really good normal lcd tv then id recommend the Pioneer PDP-428XD---different league altogether.

I don't ever write reviews, but having read Mr Kingston's review below, I felt compelled to respond:-

Out of the box:-
"Awkward and lengthy process of attaching the stand" - This took me 10 mins at the most. If you're wall mounting it, this isn't applicable anyway, so moaning about this is just ridiculous!

Set Up & Menus:- "Remote buttons must be pressed 2-3 times" - Do they!?? Mine works fine first press, every time. Did you use some old batteries/ drop-kicked the remote a few times?

"The on/off button must be pressed on the tv before you can use the remote" - What!!?? No, you don't! Clearly you just can't use a remote...

Picture Quality:- "The LC46 produces dreadful standard def images" - Are you kidding? You bought a £2k HD tv, and complain the analalogue aerial picture is poor!? You deserve to be shot if you buy a state of the art tv and then run low-def images through it - did you watch Betamax videos on it too!?

Sound:- "scratchy and tinny" - If you spent about 2 mins reading the instructions, you can adjust the sound settings, including a 'loudness' button (like most Japanese equipment). Hence the reason 'What Home Cinema' magazine said this had the BEST sound on any LCD/Plasma panel they have tested!!!

Overall:- Okay, I agree the Pioneer PDP5000EX is better. But it's nearly 5 times the price!! That's like saying a £150k Lamborghini is faster than a £30k Subaru Impreza - it's true, but debatable whether it's worth all that extra money, if all you want is a 'fast' car?

Overall, I'd say go for this Sharp if you want a quality HD tv for a bargain price. If you want to watch analogue tv and videos on it, keep your old tv, because NO LCD or Plasma can magically convert a poor input into a spectacular HD picture.