When I flipped to a standard-def broadcast, I immediately noted a pincushion effect that I hadn't seen with widescreen programs. The gray bars to either side of the 4:3 image bowed inward halfway up the screen, as though the picture was being pinched at its midpoint. This is an effect of the TV's lens and can't be corrected through adjustments.

On the other hand, whether I was watching 4:3 or widescreen material, the HD-61Z886's individual pixels were all but invisible compared with those of 720p DLP or, especially, LCD TVs - a great benefit for people (including me) who like to sit close. The set's viewing angle is also very wide, so people sitting on the far sides of the couch can expect the same picture quality as someone sitting in the center.

BOTTOM LINE If you've been looking for the brightest RPTV on the market, look no further. With its contrast control maxed-out, the JVC could give you a tan watching the winter Olympics. People who spend a good deal of time viewing movies in darkened rooms will probably prefer DLP and even LCD RPTVs, which can deliver darker blacks and more realistic shadow detail. But for sports fans who fill their weekends watching daytime games in bright sunlit rooms, JVC's HD-61Z886 is pretty hard to beat.