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  • Introduction

  • Design & Appearance

  • Picture Quality

  • Software Overview

  • Final Thoughts

  • Contrast Ratio

  • Color Curves

  • Color Temperature

  • Color Gamut

  • Introduction
  • Design & Appearance
  • Picture Quality
  • Software Overview
  • Final Thoughts
  • Contrast Ratio
  • Color Curves
  • Color Temperature
  • Color Gamut

Introduction

We can’t say we’re entirely wowed by this TV, but it did better in many areas than one might expect from a relatively new company. The E325 boasted mostly accurate colors, with smooth gradations across an ideal spectrum. Its contrast ratio didn’t impress, but neither is it unusable. The E325 promises a decent viewing angle and surprisingly good motion, and no major drawbacks in its design or software functionality. If you can find it on sale (you can)—and don’t mind using a native 720p display—this TV could be a viable, cheap option for sports or gaming.

Design & Appearance

A simple, easy-to-use design.

The E325 is a non-smart, non-3D 32-inch HDTV from a lesser-known brand. Its maximum display resolution is 1366 × 768. To say that this Sceptre falls into the bargain category is not an insult so much as simply a fact. Its design, therefore, matches that status. A grainy, charcoal bezel frames the screen, which perches atop an entirely forgettable stand.

The TV's side and rear ports are color coded.

There is one design choice that we really like. The TV’s side and rear connectivity ports are all designated with labels—almost too meticulously—which are color coded to make habitual alterations easier on the eyes. It’s a feature I’ve only ever seen on Vizio TVs before, but it works, and adds a little needed flavor to an otherwise wholly average, boring build.

You can tell that Sceptre is working to present their products in the best possible light. The TV’s manual, remote, and power cable are shipped in a zip-sealed bag, alongside a small Philips screwdriver and a red embroidered cleaning cloth. We can give them an “A” for effort, but at the end of the day, it’s performance that matters most.

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Picture Quality

The E325 is no flagship model—it only does one thing.

That one thing consists of producing a picture, and fortunately, the E325 has a solid core performance. Its color scores were decent overall, with very little visible color temperature error, a smooth RGB gradient, and a mostly accurate color gamut. Its contrast could be a lot better—it was narrowed considerably by poor black levels—but it isn’t enough to bar the TV from purchase consideration.

We were especially impressed with this TV’s screen performance. It had surprisingly good, artifact- and trailing-free motion, showcasing only a little bit of blur during even our toughest tests. It has a wider viewing angle than average, which gives it some needed flexibility when combined with its ability to swivel. The integrated speakers were loud and crisp, producing a sound almost too big for the 32-inch screen. Overall, this TV isn’t a home-run, but it definitely puts a few men on base.

Software Overview

Just the basics.

The Sceptre E325 has no internet abilities whatsoever. Like all displays, it has a basic settings menu, consisting of Picture, Sound, Channel, and other categories that are ubiquitous across the TV market. At this point, we’ve been spoiled by the finest 2012 TVs from the largest grossing manufacturers in the world—not to mention the space-age beauties at CES 2013—so these menus just look uncouth by comparison.

Looks aside, the menu works. After dealing with LG’s somewhat spotty Magic Remote, I felt relieved to have a traditional remote in my hand. Navigating menus is easy, and Sceptre’s handsome accompanying manual explains picture settings to a higher degree than is normal.

The E325 can play back stored picture and music files.

If you connect a USB drive (up to 2gb in size) the E325 can play back stored picture files (single, or in a slideshow) as well as music files stored on it. The USB menu, like the main menu, is highly simple and dressed down, but it works as advertised. This isn’t a wirelessly connected DLNA network or anything, but if you want to play some Bonobo for your hipster chill party, it’ll work.

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Final Thoughts

The Sceptre E325BV-HDH (MSRP $599) is much too expensive for a non-smart, non-3D HDTV. Sceptre is asking Samsung prices for the E325, except it’s not Samsung yet. Further, the TV itself seems to have borrowed its design approach from Vizio, and its color adherence from LG—not the worst comparisons we could draw. Every undergrad trumpeter wants to be compared to Miles Davis.

We think $600 is too much to ask for a 32-inch TV this plain, though. The redeeming factor is that this is one of those retailer-friendly models that’s sold repeatedly by Wal-Mart, Costco, and NewEgg.com; nine times out of ten, it’s on sale. If you are considering purchase, know that you’ll be investing in a simple, decent television. Its color accuracy isn’t perfect, but it’s free of any major flaws. The E325 tested a contrast ratio that’s just average, but is still good enough for use as a monitor, sports TV, or really any content so long as you’re not a film buff—cinephiles steer clear, these black levels might make you cry.

With good core performance, quality motion, and above average audio, this little TV packs a pretty mean punch. It’s not a $600 punch, but we feel it’s not egregiously overpriced either. Look for the Sceptre E325 on sale: If you’re in the market for a small, functional TV with good picture (and don’t mind settling for 720p), this one could get the job done.

Contrast Ratio

Sceptre’s website advertizes the E325 as having a contrast ratio of 1200:1. It also claims its peak brightness is 250 cd/m2 . The second claim is correct—we tested a brightness of 252.44 cd/m2 . Yet for the first claim to be accurate, the Sceptre’s black level would have to be darker than it truly is.

More importantly though, the Sceptre’s actual and inadvertently advertised black levels are just bad. Our spectrometer revealed a black level of 0.25 cd/m2 , which is really poor by modern HDTV standards. Still, at least Sceptre was honest about the product’s brightness. The actual contrast ratio is 1010:1, which is just okay.

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Color Curves

Our extensive color tests revealed that this budget buy produces great color and greyscale curves for what you’re paying. Its reds, greens, and blues will adhere to a smooth, seamless transition from dark to bright, which means realistic edge gradation and a satisfying range of hues and shades. The greens peaked a little early, but most users will be entirely satisfied by this color spectrum.

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Color Temperature

Color temperature refers to the temperature, in Kelvins, of the light produced by a television. A neutral color temperature will produce white light, whereas warming and cooling produce more orange-red or blue tinged light.

The Sceptre E325 adheres to a consistent color temperature across the majority of its input spectrum, swaying here and there; it doesn’t deviate into visible range until its shadow tones. However, when it does deviate, it continues to do so well into extremely visible ranges, almost -8000° K from its starting point. This isn’t a huge problem only because it happens within the most pitch black shadows, but picture purists should keep this result in mind if considering purchase.

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Color Gamut

The E325 had mixed color gamut results. Its blue and green points align to the international HDTV ideal gamut (called Rec. 709 or BT709) very accurately; they’re practically perfect within the realm of human vision. Its white point is too cyan/blue, however, and its peak red is highly undersaturated. This means that reds, in general, will not be as bright and vivid as they ought to be. This is worth taking note of, but it won’t destroy the entire coloration of the picture.

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Meet the tester

Lee Neikirk

Lee Neikirk

Former Editor, Home Theater

@Koanshark

Lee was Reviewed's point person for most television and home theater products from 2012 until early 2022. Lee received Level II certification in TV calibration from the Imaging Science Foundation in 2013. As Editor of the Home Theater vertical, Lee oversaw reviews of TVs, monitors, soundbars, and Bluetooth speakers. He also reviewed headphones, and has a background in music performance.

See all of Lee Neikirk's reviews

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