HDTV Reviews

The HD-56FN97 is JVC’s latest 1080p HD-ILA technology based HDTV, coming in at 56-inches. Cnet have a review of the HD-56FN97 and say like most high-end rear-projection HDTVs the JVC HD-56FN97 boasts a native resolution of 1080p, which is the highest available today. There are a total of three HD-ILA chips, one each for red, green, and blue, each with 1,920×1,080 discrete pixels.

This top-of-the-line HDTV is equipped with quite a few convenience features. There’s single-tuner PIP, labeled Twin on the remote, which when combined with another tuner from a cable box, for example, will give you the ability to watch two programs simultaneously. A CableCard slot is onboard for those who want to bypass a cable box, although you’ll also lose the programming grid, because the JVC lacks an EPG such as TV Guide. Of course there is an ATSC tuner for the reception of local off-air HDTV broadcasts. The number of aspect ratio choices is about average: four with standard-def sources and three wih high-def.

Connectivity options are quite generous on the HD-56FN97. Two HDMI inputs head up the list of the most important video connections, with two component video inputs running a close second. As with some other HDTVs, the JVC doubles up on some of the inputs, although the HDMI ports merit their own dedicated input slots. Inputs 1 and 2 can be used for composite, S-Video, or component-video sources.

The JVC HD-56FN97 didn’t deliver quite the picture quality we’ve seen on some of the best 1080p big screens this year, although it certainly held its own. It turned in an excellent black-level performance, and details were very sharp. Color accuracy, on the other hand was just OK, with the JVC’s primary color of green being the major culprit.
Cnet
JVC’s HD-56FN97 Page