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Hitachi's 32" 32" 16:9 LCD TV is a great little unit. It features a clean look with a grey border and side speakers, and cleverly hidden buttons at the top of the panel. The screen runs at a native resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels and supports 1080i high-definition image display through down-filtering. The panel offers a 16:9 aspect ratio by default, but includes full support for other aspect ratios and picture-in-picture. In fact, the Hitachi boasts dual tuners, so you can watch two channels at once.
The screen ships with a pair of 12W speakers that bring the dimensions up to 102 x 32 x 62cm. The audio is a little tinny, but adequate for watching TV or DVDs.
The rear of the screen boasts a vast range of inputs. The list includes S-Video, component, DVI, VGA, HDMI, RF antenna, and composite. In fact, just about the only thing missing is SCART. This is backed up by outputs for composite, S-video and audio, which would help this TV integrate into any home.
The bulky remote control is elegantly laid out and offers quick access to AV inputs, menu systems and channel selection. If the 176-degree viewing angle doesn't allow everyone in a room to see clearly, the screen can also be swivelled on its base via remote.
The menu system is well designed and extremely easy to use. Tuning channels is relatively slow, but it's a task you'll have to perform only once.
Image quality was good across the board, with even colour balance, contrast and adequate brightness to handle everything from live sports through to dark, atmospheric films on DVD. Some moire was apparent in on-screen text from an AV source, but it wasn't a serious issue. In fact, it only became evident when we were using the TV for some light console gaming; it was otherwise unnoticeable.
While the Hitachi unit is impressive, the one-year warranty is a disappointment. The screen is rated to 60,000 hours' life, but in this price bracket, you'd hope for better support. The display itself is a solid performer, offering an enormous range of inputs and great image quality, but the short warranty could be a turn-off.
