Cinematic Sensation

Technically, film is inferior to high-definition video.

Look at any high-definition program that is originally shot on film and transferred to high-definition video, such as movies or some TV shows, and compare that with something like Discovery HD Theater that shoots nearly all of its footage in a progressively scanned, 1080 line high-definition video format, and the HD video-originated material will look superior every time.

But look at an actual filmstrip versus videotape, and the magic is seen in the celluloid. Hitachi hopes to capture some of the intrigue that film brings to our home entertainment medium without losing the performance capability of high-definition in its lineup of LCD televisions.

Hitachi’s 32HDL51 even looks like a frame of movie film, with black speakers on either side replacing the perforation slots of the filmstrip. Its native 1366 by 768 screen resolution qualifies as high definition and suggests that the image may appear equally as cinematic.

The panel looks and feels solid, unlike many of the lightweight off-brand panels I’ve been reviewing lately. The integrated stand contributes to the heft, and the fact that you can rotate the motorized stand with the remote while sitting on the couch wins major points.

I’m an even bigger fan of the set’s separate input box, or what Hitachi calls the “Audio Video Control Center,” particularly if you plan to wall-mount the panel. Connect all your components to this box at your equipment rack then route only one cable (plus power) to the display.

Unfortunately, Hitachi, like other manufacturers, insists on using a “proprietary” dual-connector cable that transfers digital video and audio signals from the external box to the display. Multiple lengths are available, but the cable’s large connectors make it nearly impossible to pull through anything smaller than a 2-inch conduit. If you leave the TV on the stand, or don’t mind tearing up your walls, the included cable is fine.
 
Ironically, though the control center lacks an HDMI output to the monitor, it does offer two HDMI inputs. Both include HDCP copy-protection technology, which is necessary to decode encrypted HDTV signals from tuners. In fact, the control center can accommodate nearly any type of analog or video signal you can throw at it—a USB port even accepts an external photo card viewer—but the CableCard slot and FireWire ports are the major highlights.

The former allows you to connect the TV directly to your digital cable outlet without the need for a separate digital cable box. This system only accepts one-way service from the cable company, though, so things that require feedback, such as the program guide and video-on-demand service, will keep you tethered to the cable company’s box. If you opt to use CableCard, or connect the set’s internal HD tuner to an external, off-air antenna, you can utilize the FireWire ports with an external recorder––a D-VHS VCR, or a future format like HD-DVD or Blu-ray––which will allow you to time-shift your favorite high-definition video programs.

The 32HDL51 has Day and Night picture modes that you can use to save optimized picture settings. This way you get excellent picture quality for any lighting condition. Use the remote or the automatic timer to switch between the modes.FireWire also provides basic control of the connected device, such as the D-VHS recorder, through the TV’s remote. Hitachi offers similar functionality for non-FireWire-equipped components through a feature called AVNet. This is a neat idea if you only have a couple other items in your system. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t work with my Toshiba DVD player and Sunfire receiver.

More complex systems should use a separate programmable remote anyway, like the Philips Pronto or Logitech’s line of Harmony remotes. These can perform multiple functions with the touch of one button.

The 32HDL51’s universal remote does offer some control over other devices on its own and can provide discrete commands to access individual inputs, which is great for making the programmable remotes work better, but it lacks separate commands for power functions, picture preferences, aspect ratios and the like.

Regardless of whose remote you use to control the display, you’ll see a great picture as it offers a number of excellent adjustments. A backlight control, for example, is great for adjusting the set’s light output level based on your room lighting. Crank it up during the day for a brighter image and turn it down at night for better black levels and higher contrast.

Save the settings in the available Day and Night picture preference modes for a quick and easy recall. Despite a gamma setting that boosts picture brightness, overall, image contrast, dimension, and shadow details are excellent.

Note: Setting the black level enhancement mode to any level crushes or eliminates shadow details to varying extents (more so at higher levels) and makes black levels change in light output as the overall image changes. With this mode off, shadow details are present and black levels are consistent with any image, which makes for a better picture and is ideal for dark rooms.

The color decoder settings are similarly excellent, assuming you know how to use them. Check the manual for instructions (an on-screen tutorial would be nice).

As set by the factory, the overall image is reasonably accurate, but the TV exaggerates red images. Use a color bar test pattern––which you can easily find on various DVD test discs, including movies you rent that are THX-certified and include the THX Optimizer––and make adjustments to the color decoder settings.

The menu could use a better sequence of adjustments, but it allows you to tweak the TV’s color decoder to be as accurate as is possible. You can even save different settings to the four-color temperature modes. Brilliant! The result is an image that’s as vibrant and rich as possible, while still remaining totally natural.

The Color Management adjustments are also welcome, but significantly less useful to most people. The adjustment effectively changes the primary red, green, and blue colors used to create the image, and is a valuable tool for a qualified technician to obtain the most accurate and vibrant picture possible from the set, but you need experience and expensive test equipment to adjust it correctly. This should be a service or hidden enthusiast-accessible menu item. As it comes from the factory, the set’s colors are good.
 
Another great attribute of the 32HDL51 is its onboard “VirtualHD 1080p” video processor, which upconverts both standard- and high-definition programs to fit the panel’s native resolution. Like the Pioneer TV I reviewed last month, Hitachi’s VirtualHD processor is the best internal scaler I’ve seen in a TV and one of the rare few that actually upconverts 1080i signals to 1080p before converting them to the panel’s native resolution.

This preserves as much image detail as possible. The processor does an excellent job of detecting a program’s film or video origins, as well, and provides appropriate image processing to the signal. This ensures the cleanest picture possible under nearly any circumstance. Even image blur and lag, common problems on inexpensive LCD panels, are not major issues here. The image is incredibly sharp as a result.

With newcomers like Syntax offering acceptable low-cost flat-panel alternatives, it becomes harder for veterans like Hitachi to maintain its competitive edge. But it does. With features like CableCard, FireWire, advanced color decoder controls, and outstanding video processing, the 32HDL51 may cost more than other, less recognizable brand names, but if you can afford it, the difference is worth the price.

PRICE: $3,499
CONTACT: 800.HITACHI (448.2244), Hitachi.us/tv