HDTV Universe

Insignia NS-L26Q-10A Review: 26” LCD HDTV

Up for Review: Insignia NS-L26Q-10A LCD TV. Besides boasting a great picture quality, this HDTV has all the essentials of an economical HDTV. The front panel is completely free of all embellishment except for an LED light at the bottom right corner of the TV. This severe glossy black look does wonders for the looks of the TV. All the ports are located at the rear and sides. Resting on a swivel stand makes it easy to tweak the settings whenever you want to. The remote is quite well designed with about 50 buttons arranged neatly on the surface. It fits quite snugly into the hand and is easy to use for navigation purposes.

The contrast ratio of 2500:1 is not very healthy leading to poor black levels. The brightness tends to stay on the screen even if the screen is reduced to a completely dark one. This is an inherent problem of all LCD panels but it has become a bit more magnified in the Insignia NS-L26Q-10A. The brightness level is quite admirable being a good 450 cd/m². The color temperature is also within the prescribed limits providing for a great viewing experience. But there are some problems involving blurring and artifacting. But these effects are not very noticeable.

Insignia NS-L26Q-10A Features and Specifications Review:

• 26” display
• 16:9 aspect ratio
• 2500:1 contrast ratio
• 720p display resolution
• 3D Y/C digital filter
• 2 HDMI
• 5W/channel
• 2 speakers
• Sound leveler
• V-chip control
• 60 Hz refresh rate
• Energy Star qualified

The viewing angle is pretty good, being 176 degrees for both the horizontal and vertical directions. This ensures that you get a good view of the TV even if you are seated a bit away from the TV. Although there is a problem with the screen reflections, it is not very distracting. And because of the 3D Y/C digital comb filter, the noise is filtered out leaving a clear and crisp picture. The audio is good with two 5W speakers but it could still have been better. But the Insignia NS-L26Q-10A is very diligent about adhering to the Energy Star requirements.

Connectivity options are decent in this set. There are 2 HDMI which can be used to input high definition programming. The other ports in the sides and rear include 2 composite, 1 component, 1 S-video, 1 PC and 1 RF input. The stand being a swivel one, you can access these ports quite easily. The PC input lets you convert the TV to a computer monitor and view all your applications on high definition. This HDTV is quite complete with respect to the features you will expect on any set. With a price tag of $329.99 MSRP, it is poised to provide stiff competition to the other HDTVs in this range.

HDTVUniverse.com gives Insignia NS-L26Q-10A 4/5 stars!