JVC LT-20B60SJ review

JVC offers an affordable LCD alternative

TechRadar Verdict

Does nothing seriously wrong but doesn't stand out from the average crowd either

Pros

  • +

    Decent connectivity

    Fair price

    Clean pictures

Cons

  • -

    Slightly soft picture

    Muted colours

    Treble-heavy sound

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

JVC's latest LCD TV range can be summed up as impressive but expensive. So the LT-20B60SJ looks like an anomaly, as it offers 20in of picture for the approachable price of £450. This is an anomaly we don't have a problem with, provided JVC's corner-cutting hasn't gone too far.

It's fair to say that the 20B60SJ won't win any awards for design. In fact, the expanse of plasticky silver screen surround looks almost laughably old-school with its combination of sheer bulk and almost child-like curves.

Things get more 'serious' with its connections; an adequate two Scarts are joined by a 12-pin VGA PC jack. Being able to double up as a PC monitor will increase its appeal.

The 20B60SJ's features list is predictably short. On the pictures side, the only noteworthies are a dedicated backlight brightness adjustment and video noise reduction. For audio, there's just 'Hyper Sound' for delivering a wider soundstage.

As for internal specifications, the 800 x 600 native resolution shapes up well against the Samsung 20S51 also reviewed in this issue; the 500:1 quoted contrast is fair at this price; and the 500cd/m2 brightness is a shade higher than usual.

Unfortunately, though, these specs don't translate into particularly special pictures. For starters, the picture lacks both deep black level response (dark areas succumb to a blue-grey tone that hides shadow details and reduces depth perception), and the sort of eyecatching brightness now common among even budget LCD TVs.

Softly softly

The picture also looks slightly soft, thanks to a lack of fine detail and texture, and a tendency for what fine detail there is to be besmirched by moiring interference. Finally on the downside, colours, while natural in tone, look slightly muted.

One thing that doesn't contribute to the slight softness, however, is smearing; although movement on the 20B60SJ isn't completely immaculate, it's nothing like as blurry as many low-cost rivals.

Also pleasing is the picture's directness; you're not distracted by common LCD noise ailments such as dot crawl, grain or colour banding. Finally a thumbs up goes to the TV's tuner, which is sensitive enough to provide an unusually strong, clean signal.

Despite their unusual (by LCD standards) bulk, the 20B60SJ's speakers are uninspiring. An almost complete lack of bass is sadly emphasised by too much focus on trebles,which leaves the soundstage unbalanced and very harsh under any sort of duress. Voices often sound nasal and boxy as well.There is some good news, however, in that the set can reach pretty high volumes, never succumbs to distortion, and produces subtle effects with unusual clarity.

Ultimately there's something slightly dated about the 20B60SJ's performance. Also, the price only looks 'good' rather than 'great' when you consider that Samsung's 20in LCD TV sells for £70 less. Which means that, unexcitingly, the best word to sum up the 20B60SJ overall is probably 'OK'. John Archer

Tech.co.uk was the former name of TechRadar.com. Its staff were at the forefront of the digital publishing revolution, and spearheaded the move to bring consumer technology journalism to its natural home – online. Many of the current TechRadar staff started life a Tech.co.uk staff writer, covering everything from the emerging smartphone market to the evolving market of personal computers. Think of it as the building blocks of the TechRadar you love today. 

Latest in Televisions
XGIMI Portable Outdoor Screen
This cheap new outdoor projector screen looks like a smart companion for portable projectors – get 70 inches of entertainment anywhere
LG C4 OLED, Fire TV Omni QLED and Insignia TV on a yellow background
These 11 TV deals in the Amazon Spring Sale are as good as anything I see on Black Friday
Hisense U8 series TV on wall in living room
Hisense announces 2025 mini-LED TV lineup, with screen sizes up to 100 inches – and a surprising smart TV switch
Samsung QN90F on yellow background
Samsung announces US prices for its 2025 mini-LED TV lineup, and it’s good and bad news
Hisense U7N Prime Day 2024 deal image
The Hisense U7N was one of the best TVs I tested in 2024, and it just had its price slashed at Amazon
Samsung HW-Q990D soundbar with Halloween theme over the top
Samsung promises to repair soundbars bricked by its disastrous software update for free – but it'll probably involve shipping
Latest in Reviews
Product shots for the Xiaomi Poco X7 Ultra review
I spent a month testing the Xiaomi Poco F7 Ultra, a top-end mid-ranger that masquerades as a flagship
The Kiwi design K4 Boost Battery strap being worn by Hamish
I test VR headsets for a living, and this affordable headstrap is the first Meta Quest 3 accessory you should buy
Both Kiwi design G4 Pro Performance Controller Grips
I thought VR controller grips were pointless until this Meta Quest 3 accessory proved me wrong
The Kiwi design H4 Boost Halo Battery Strap
Want to upgrade your VR headset? Look no further than my new favorite Meta Quest 3 headstrap
WithSecure Elements EPP and EDR main image
I tested the WithSecure Elements EPP and EDR - read how I rated this Endpoint Protection for small business
The RIG M2 Streamstar.
I wanted to love the new RIG M2 Streamstar, but this pricey gaming microphone fails to deliver