Would you believe that, despite the massive hype to the contrary, that most of today’s media isn’t utilizing the full potential of those expensive, 1080p enabled HDTVs?  Such is often the case for early adopters of new technology, as the true greatness of many of the most expensive displays have their picture quality ‘downgraded’ to the more compatible 720p mode.  This isn’t the fault of your HDTV manufacturer – they’re (usually) selling you a fully capable television set, but rather the developers, publishers, and content providers who should otherwise be pumping crystal-clear images of truly magnificent HD goodness for your viewing pleasure.

And chances are pretty good you didn’t know this.  Think that video game console is displaying 1080p images just because you’ve got a nice HDMI cable?  Better check the back of your game (software) box to verify that, as nearly ever Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 game out there maxes out in (still beautiful) 720p modes.  The Wii fares better, with its maximum resolution of 480p (progressive-scan) and relatively simpler graphics.  But with prices for true 1080p displays shrinking all the time, so will come the flood of content eager to take full advantage of this growing market.  Those looking to upgrade their current viewing option – whether from standard or another HDTV – have plenty of options that balance true performance with acceptable pricing, often the key to enjoying digital nirvana on today’s budget.

And it’s really this balance that’s always been one of the nicest things when we’re talking about Insignia – Best Buy’s house brand.  The problem one often runs into when picking up a cheap (sorry, less expensive) high-definition television isn’t so much with picture clarity, but picture performance.  This has become increasingly more important as so much of today's media is produced to blaze across the screen, lightning fast and quick to keep up with all the madness.  LCDs have come a long way over the years, catching up to Plasmas in overall performance, and handedly crushing them in overall value and pricing.  If you're looking for a great looking 1080p picture and don't want to break the piggybank, take another look at the Insignia NS-L322Q-10A 32" LCD.

For those looking to narrow down the Insignia's economy-budgeted option to base statistics, you’re looking at a 32” LCD HDTV that's capable of a true 1080p display.  A more technical look reveals the set to include 60Hz, with a 6.5 ms response time (more on those two in just a bit), with an attractive black plastic finish and is fully Energy Star compliant for those who care about such things.  At less than 30 pounds the set can easily be moved just about anywhere, even mounted if you like.

Clarity is one area that the NS-LC22Q-10A excels, with its gorgeous 16:9 widescreen and maximum 1920 x 1080 display resolution.  Colorful, static images looked particularly crisp and beautiful, with nice contrasts between whites and (most) blacks.  Reds look positively juicy, while greens and blues really do stand out.  Text was sharp, easily readable (even from across the room), and it looked like every pixel was viewable and aligned to their respective corner.

Those who love options in their HDTVs won’t find much to complain about with the NS-LC22Q-10A, as Insignia has literally packed the unit’s input selection to the gills.  Real standouts include a whopping four HDMI ports (two in back, two on the side), which should be more than enough to handle most HD-compatible devices.  Two component inputs (both in back) are available, as are two S-video (one in back, one on the side) and two composite inputs (in back, on side) to help ensure the rest of your high/standard-definition devices are compatible.  For those interested, there’s one VGA (PC) input and standard coaxial for RF antennas.  A nice stereo headset jack is located conveniently on the side, just in case you and the TV need a little quiet time together.

We tested the NS-LC22Q-10A with a variety of devices, both HD and standard, and came away with a generally positive opinion.  As with all LCD televisions, the quality of your standard-definition content will vary greatly on what the content actually is.  DVDs looked great, and even better when upscaled to progressive-scan through a compatible player.  Our base progressive-scan (non-HD) gaming platform was the Nintendo Wii, and when the picture quality played at 480p resolutions was amazingly stable and fluid, with extremely good primary colors and perfect sharpness when displaying 2D visuals.  The Wii can be notoriously difficult with some LCD HDTVs, and we’re happy to report that isn’t the case here.

True HD-performance is where things get a little shakier – literally.  While static images looked photo-realistic, when things got moving in true HD (720p, 1080p) the slight blurriness was unmistakable.  This isn’t so much a problem with the actual unit as it is with LCDs in general.  A good combination of higher specifications and response time can generally help alleviate this problem, although this particular unit uses the somewhat standard mix of 60Hz and 6.5 response time, which is generally considered average.  The most ‘true’ HD (i.e. 1080p) you’ll get in this current generation of content will be from select games, cable/satellite, and Blu-ray films.  While gamers may want to experiment before buying (see below), those who want a good, solid movie-watching 32” display could do a lot worse.  This set was really made for Blu-ray films and in some cases comes bundled with a stock player.  No real frills, but certainly lots of thrills await those upgrading from tube or smaller HDTV displays here.

Actual performance for HD-gaming (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3) was gloriously sharp and looked amazing, although the aforementioned motion-blur was noticeable in higher-action games.  Slower movements looked and performed best (no surprise), with most games reverting to their native 720p resolutions.  Those looking for pureness and immediacy in their games that require accuracy (i.e. first-person shooters, racers) may want to demo the set before picking one up, although to be perfectly honest the picture quality should be more than satisfactory for most.  Techno-snobs need not apply.

One issue I did have when trying to adjust the picture quality was the placement of the system menus themselves, which were smack-dab in the middle of the picture frame.  Last time I checked, nearly everything your eyes are trained to focus on is usually center-of-screen, and having that prime piece of digital real-estate taken up with menus (even while adjusting) was inconvenient.  Also unexceptional was the unit’s audio output, with almost non-existent bass and base-level performance from the two speakers underneath.  It’s passable quality, although two audio-out options (red/white and optical) are there if you need them.

Combining great looks and performance into one attractive package, the Insignia NS-LC22Q-10A is one of the best and least-expensive entry-level 1080p LCD HDTV options currently available.  An amazing, crystal-clear image await those who couple the set with appropriate media and cables, although gamers should note that some blurring does occur on some of the faster, more intense games.  Plenty of HD/SD inputs mean you can build your entertainment center around it, though the tinny speakers mean you'll probably want to invest in a decent sound system.  We've come to expect great things from Insignia's budget-level HDTV options, and this 32" LCD is certainly no exception.