JVC LT-37DR1BJ review

The JVC LT-37DR1BJ may be affordable but we'd spend more and get a lot more than this set offers Tested at £650.00

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

Even at a knock-down price we’d be inclined to spend more and get a lot more than this JVC offers

Pros

  • +

    Affordable price tag

  • +

    three HDMI inputs, 1080p

  • +

    decent HD images, with good black levels

Cons

  • -

    Missing subtleties and sharp edges

  • -

    no media streaming

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    no HD tuner

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

Cheap, isn't it? This JVC is an affordable TV and a cursory search online will show it can picked it up for closer to £500 at some retailers.

This set has been around a little while and, in terms of specifications at least, it shows. While the likes of Panasonic and Sony have been busily cramming as many of the latest features on board the latest sets, JVC has been a little slower to act.

In fact, while the company's home cinema projectors stand pretty as some of the most advanced around, JVC's LCD TVs seem to have been left to gather dust.

No HD tuner fitted

So if you expect an HD tuner, then you're out of luck here. Likewise, don't expect anything by way of streaming media capabilities or any internet applications.

Instead the focus here is simply on picture performance. It's a Full HD resolution set, with three HDMI inputs, the latest of JVC's DynaPix HD processing engine, a USB input, digital optical audio output and a standard definition Freeview tuner.

JVC has given its TV menus something of a freshen-up but we still can't help but think they convey a slightly tired message, being a little sluggish to move around and looking a touch underwhelming.

Feeding the best quality picture to the screen – Avatar on Blu-ray is currently taking that accolade for us – there's much to enjoy about the picture. It's vivid and punchy, with contrast levels strong and skin tones faithfully rendered.

Picture lacks subtlety
But there's little subtlety on display here, with colours drawn in broad brush-strokes. Edges could be more sharply drawn, too, and motion's sometimes a little shaky.

Without the advantage of HD source material, the JVC struggles to keep in touch with the competition. Digging out an old favourite DVD, Training Day, the LT-37DR1BJ does well enough to uncover detail in dark scenes but the picture lacks definition and insight.

Switch to the Freeview tuner and it's watchable but there's some noise and instability, while sonically it sounds on the thick side.

With such capable and highly specified performers at affordable prices around, even budget offerings such as this JVC need to up their game.

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What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

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