Whilst on paper it is clear that LED backlighting allows for improved energy efficiency and thinner displays, some will find it hard to justify the considerable price increase LED TVs sport over equivalent sized, non-LED rivals.

Sharp are the latest to join the fray and the LC40LE700E represents the higher end of the LED range. But what does the Sharp LC40LE700E have to offer over the competition?

40″ Full LED Backlighting for Enhanced Blacks

Well, the first significant feature is the full LED backlighting system, which rather than utilising LEDs arranged around the edge of the screen allows for uniform brightness with total coverage across the back. This technology is called Full Back-lit LED.
This is an improvement over the first Edge-lit LED TVs produced by Samsung, which were criticised for their uneven level of lighting. It is a pity that this technology makes the LC40LE700E look a lot less futuristic than other LED TVs.
It is still thinner than most LCD options, but the overall design is very understated, with plain black being the only colour on offer here. Some might consider this stylish because of its simplicity, but others could see it as being boring.
The 40 inch screen is virtually the ideal size for an HDTV for most living rooms. It is large enough to provide a cinematic experience without feeling ostentatious in smaller spaces. It also has support for 1080p full HD content, which is a must with a screen this size.

4 HDMI, 2 SCART plus USB Connectivity

In terms of connectivity the Sharp Aquos LC40LE700E is well stocked.
There are 4 HDMI ports for your Blu-Ray player, games console, HDTV receiver and HD camcorder.
There is also an analogue D-SUB PC input, a component and composite video input and two SCART sockets.
Now, it may not seem like much to include the older SCART interface, but since other LED TVs discounted the analogue connections in order to further streamline their design, people with VHS players were left wanting. This is not the case with the LC40LE700E. You will be able to connect all of your audiovisual devices and still have room for more.

There is a USB port located on the side of the LC40LE700E which can accept memory sticks and playback MP3 music tracks and allow you to view your photographic files in JPEG format on the big screen.

Final Thoughts

The main event of the LC40LE700E is of course its LED backlighting. The brochure claims that this allows for some truly impressive contrast levels as well as top-notch colour hue and saturation.

On the first point, the LC40LE700E does indeed have very impressive levels of contrast. Few HDTVs can boast the deep blacks and bright whites that the LED technology creates.
However, you will need to spend some quality time with the menu system if you want to produce colours that are not over the top and garish.
In its basic setting the LC40LE700E is slightly too vibrant for most tastes. However, the menus are easy to navigate and you can alter every setting incrementally until you are happy.

Overall the LC40LE700E packs an impressive set of features that look to the future and the past and it has an excellent picture. Hopefully this will encourage consumers to ignore the premium they are paying for the new LED technology.

Compare LC40LE700E Prices

lc40le700e specification

Related posts:

1. Sharp Aquos LED TV £100 Cashback Offer
2. Sharp LC40LE600E LED TV Review
3. Sharp Aquos LE600E Series LED TV

The new range of LED TVs offered by Sharp, which trump their rivals because they use LEDs across the back of the display rather than just at the sides, is part of this market assault.
And the LC40LE600E represents the value-end of this line up. That is not to say that the Sharp Aquos LC40LE600E is cheap, it is just comparatively cheap for a large 40 inch LED TV.

Up to 40% Energy Savings

LED technology allows for screens to be much thinner and lighter than older HDTVs because the LED backlighting takes up far less space. This also allows for much improved energy efficiency. Sharp claim that the LC40LE600E is up to 40% more efficient than an equivalent standard LCD screen.
However, to achieve these results you will need to turn down the backlight and put it into energy-saving mode. So in reality your own results may vary, but it is at least a step in the right direction.

50Hz Refresh Rate but still a great performer

The LED technology is not just a tagged-on eco-credential. It allows for some improvements in picture quality as well. Most notably the LC40LE600E has an extremely good dynamic contrast ratio.
This means that when a film or TV show takes you into the murky, darker areas of the world, the LC40LE600E will be able to recreate these dank, dingy environments with higher fidelity.
Equally, when the screen is bursting with colour and light, things will look a lot more vibrant and alive.

Overall the Sharp LC40LE600E LED TV performs excellently in terms of picture quality, though certain professional reviewers have complained of a less than perfect refresh rate which can still result in a little image ghosting. Your own toleration of such potential problems will dictate your opinion of the LC40LE600E.

Plenty of Connections

The LC40LE600E is of course a full HD display, with a comfortable native resolution of 1080p. That makes it perfect for use with a high definition Blu Ray disc player and your movies will never look more alive than when they are playing on the LC40LE600E.

It has 3 HDMI inputs as well as a range of older inputs, including 2 SCART connectors, to make it backwards compatible with all your older home entertainment equipment.

Conclusion

There are two main problems with the Sharp Aquos LC40LE600E LED TV. The first is its overall design. It does not look as swish or cutting-edge as the technology it boasts requires. As such a slightly chunky, clunky look may put some of the more aesthetically-driven consumers off.
That being said, Samsung’s recent range of LED TVs received some complaints because of their over-the-top, ultra-stylish designs looking too decadent.

The second issue relates to the performance of the screen itself. You may well need to spend some time with the LC40LE600E when you first get it out of the box in order to adjust the picture settings to suit you. The standard settings, which have obviously been produced to show off the power and versatility of the LED technology, can be a little overwhelming, with surreal colours and bright backlighting damaging the subtler capabilities of the screen.
For some the tweaking would be essential anyway, but for others it may come as an unwanted irritant.

Overall the Sharp Aquos LC40LE600E offers fantastic value as an entry level Full LED backlit television and if you can put up with a refresh rate of only 50Hz then this telly ticks all the other boxes.

Compare LC40LE600E Prices

lc40le600e specification

Related posts:

1. Sharp Aquos LE600E Series LED TV
2. Sharp Aquos LED TV £100 Cashback Offer
3. Sharp LC40LE700E LED TV Review