Cheap IX PA1721TWSB 17" 16:9 LCD Flat-Panel TV (Black w/Silver back) (Electronics) Price

This is by no means a big-screen TV. It is, however, a widescreen set whose 16:9 aspect ratio was designed to match the native ratios of your favorite feature films. Standard (4:3 aspect-ratio) programs and computer outputs render with a 14.5-inch diagonal image flanked by innocuous black bars. The supplied credit-card remote has a dedicated button for toggling between 16:9 and 4:3 modes, though it's up to you to set a DVD player or computer for a 16:9-ratio output.

We found setup and configuration delightfully fast and intuitive. You'll need a small Phillips-head screwdriver to access the audio/video inputs, as the stylish set was designed to look presentable from either front or behind. An auto adjustment from the PC mode's onscreen menu quickly scales a PC's output--whether you've set it to 4:3 or 16:9--to the precise dimensions of the screen.

We were very impressed with the quality-to-dollar ratio of the picture itself. The PC mode offers crisp text and vivid colors, with deep blacks and great facility with subtle color grades. As a TV, you get what you give it--you may be shocked to see how bad cable TV looks on a high-quality monitor, but that's every bit the result of the endemically poor resolution from most cable providers. An audio/video source like a VCR or a camcorder looks a lot better through the composite- or S-video inputs, but the set really struts its stuff when you fire up the component-video inputs (interlaced, not progressive), which most DVD players accommodate.

A component-video connection provides sharper, cleaner colors, reduced video noise such as dot crawl, and greater dynamic range (the difference between the blackest blacks and the brightest whites). Black-and-white movies, in particular, offered startling depth--a fortunate by-product of the wide dynamic range. In low-light situations, the blacks weren't quite as black as those from pricier sets with higher contrast ratios, but they remained impressive.

The screen maintains its minimal glare, legibility, and great color even at extreme angles, though we noticed brightness suffering at just 15 degrees off axis. The monitor tilts (plus five, minus 25 degree) but does not swivel. A choice of color temperatures lets you tailor the image to your taste and environs, and the onscreen menu grants access to a range of adjustments, including brightness, color, hue, sharpness, contrast, horizontal and vertical positioning, phase, and clock.

The speakers are adequate--one-inch, single-cone left/right drivers built into the front panel. We did hear low-level electrical noise from the computer when using the minijack PC audio input. If the TV volume is low or if you're in an office with other people, you're not likely to notice it. For best results, maximize the volume from your PC and minimize the volume of the monitor itself--the TV's level is easy to adjust from the remote. If you're serious about sound, we'd recommend using external speakers and amplification--better quality, quieter performance. --Michael Mikesell

Pros:

• Easy setup
• Good picture right out of the box
• Excellent picture quality through component-video inputs
• Versatile (TV/PC) performance
• Efficient remote

Cons:

• Emits low-level PC electrical noise when PC audio is connected
• Manual shy on PC configuration details

What's in the Box
LCD TV, wireless remote control, remote battery (CR2025), remote cable, AC power cord, DC power transformer, user's manual, registration card, warranty information, and a mini din video cable.