Insignia, one of retail giant Best Buy's in-house brands, has been making great strides in balancing quality and affordability for the average consumer for years, and now it seems they’ve not only hit the sweet spot, but helped define it.  Quite simply, the world of sub-$599 HDTV flat-panels may have a new champion in the world of budget-priced quality models, and with performance equaling (and in some cases exceeding) some of its higher-priced competition, Insignia’s 32” NC-LCD32-9 might help start the lower-price HDTV revolution on its own terms.

Tight and conservative, Insignia’s 32” LCD has the look and feel that many of today’s more popular brands sport, including a truly sexy black glossy finish and built-in swivel stand.  Stock speakers are located at the base of the unit, and sound more than adequate when in use (although nothing outstanding).  You’d be forgiven for mistaking this Insignia for a more-expensive Samsung brand, as the design is clearly meant to invoke that brand’s defining look and functionality.  But all the good looks in the world won't help if the performance can't handle the action, and its precisely in this department that Insignia's low-priced set delivers its powerful, Trojon Horse knock-out punch.

If you’re hunting for a good choice in inputs, then this is another area in which the NC-LCD32-09 doesn’t just excel, it  dazzles.  A whopping three (3) different HDMI slots help ensure a brighter, cleaner digital future, as do the two (2) component inputs.  Two (2) standard composites, one (1) S-video, one (1) PC VGA/Audio-in and a (1) standard RF Antenna help expand the value factor by a significant margin.  Plenty of audio outputs, including standard stereo RCA, digital optical, and a convenient and well-placed headphone jack round out the set’s incredible versatility.

In case you’re curious, the set also has a built-in digital tuner, which means you’ll be good to go when the analog stations switch-off next year.

Although the NC-LCD32-09 probably won’t replace larger-size sets for movie lovers, the rules all change when it comes to providing the most substantial bang for the buck in videogaming.  Our tests with today’s most popular gaming consoles blew us away, with some of the best standard color settings already available from the get-go.  Some may scoff at the lack of fine-tuning options within the menus, but if you’re like me and have spent hours trying to get certain shades and hues look ‘just right’, you’ll appreciate such a refined experience straight from the factory.  Impressive!

Nintendo Wii gaming (progressive-scan, 480p) performed flawlessly, with none of the color dithering and bad rendering that plagues some larger, more expensive sets.  Colors popped and exploded, which might be something you’d expect from some first-party Nintendo titles.  Red and blue hues were gorgeous, and 2D gaming through Virtual Console releases looked absolutely pixel-perfect, with no text ghosting or otherwise annoying distortion.  3D games, as you might’ve guessed helped bring some of the console’s visual deficiencies to light (jaggies, particularly), but the overall picture clarity and performance was so spot-on that I’m willing to forgive a few stains on Mario’s overalls!

True HD-gaming (720p) with the Xbox 360 via HDMI was magnificent, easily outperforming more expensive sets with defined blacks and eye-popping clarity.  Even the smallest text was clearly visible, with none of the blur that other second/third-tier models (and some first-tier sets) are known for, which means no squinting on micro-text heavy games.  Although this model maxes out at 720p resolution, both component and especially HDMI support is more than capable of bringing out the finest details and the heaviest action, without any flicker or headache-inducing refresh rates that some 1080i models are known for.  HD movies are equally impressive, and while I wasn’t able to test this unit with Sony’s Blu-ray format, from my experience with watching HDMI-filtered HD movies through the Xbox, I’m certain old Blu will look stunning.  PC input supports 1366 x 768 resolutions, so the set could also pull double-duty as an extra computer display.

It’s not every day that you come across a third-tier brand HDTV that not only catches your eye, but helps break through a few barriers, but Insignia’s outstanding 32” NC-LCD32-09 does just that.  Hands down, this baby has everything you’ll need to satisfy the most demanding couch-potato lifestyle, and thanks to its near-perfect stock color settings, you’ll be ready to rock right out of the box.  It’s got more connections than you’ll ever need, headphone-support to help keep the kids quiet, and a really attractive glossy casing and swivel stand that betrays its low price-point.  This could be the model that helps Insignia break out from the pack and start playing with the big boys.  Gamers looking for the perfect entry into inexpensive HDTV nirvana should make a bee-line for this baby immediately, as slim and sexy HD entertainment has never been this cheap!