Ultrathin Hitachi LCD walks razor's edge

If you like your TVs like you like your, er, partners--slim, stylish, and expensive--then you're a good candidate for the Hitachi UT37X902. At a mere 1.5 inches thick, this thinnest of all LCDs costs a bundle but looks better turned off than just about any TV we've ever reviewed.

No matter how you slice it, the Hitachi UT37X902 is one thin display.

(Credit: CNET)

It's no slouch when turned on either, with decent black levels and color accuracy for the 37-inch LCD breed, but (isn't there always a "but"?) we couldn't help but complain about one important aspect of its design. The UT37X902 is just a "monitor," meaning it has no built-in tuner and, more importantly, includes just two inputs: one HDMI and one analog VGA for PCs. That's fine if you just want to connect a cable or satellite box and forget it, but for other gear, you'll need additional inputs. That's where the optional AV Center, a $300 breakout box, comes in.

So how does the AV Center work? What other juicy details can we provide about the TV's picture quality? And is that 1.5-inch number really accurate?

Read the full review of the Hitachi UT37X902.

Below you'll find the settings we found best for viewing the Hitachi UT37X902 in a completely dark room via the HDMI input with a 1080p, film-based source. Your settings may vary depending on source, room conditions, and personal preference. Check out the Picture settings and calibration FAQ for more information.

Picture menu:
Picture Mode: Cinema
Contrast: +25
Brightness: 0
Color: -22
Sharpness: -15
Tint: 0
Color Temperature: Warm
Back Light: -20

Deep Color: Off
Contrast Mode: Linear
3D Color Management: Off
Black Enhancement: Off
DNR: Off
MPEG NR: Off
Cross Color NR: Off
Game Mode: Off
Film Mode: Original

Color Temp Adjust menu:
Color Temp Adjust: On
Amplitude Red: 0
Green: -2
Blue: 0
Cut Off Red: +2
Green: 0
Blue: -1