The TV is limited to an analog cable tuner and, unusual for the compact class, it is fitted with two HDMI inputs. When connected to a set-top box, the TV 26 RN 1 shows itself to be a flexible little unit. Both Scart sockets accept RGB, S-Video and composite analog signals.

For a TV of its class, the Orion has rather good connectivity, which is rounded off with the HDTV-compatible YUV input and a VGA socket for analog PC signals, as well as headphone and stereo audio outputs.

No front-mounted inputs or swivel stand:
Since the TV weighs only a mere 12 kg, it is easy to get over the lack of front-mounted inputs or swivel stand. Camcorders must also, therefore, be connected at the back of the set.

The set's operation is well thought-out:
The remote control leads you through a simple, yet functional menu, which, besides the usual picture settings, allows you to set the color temperature and backlight manually.

The simply constructed channel list makes it easy for the viewer to select a channel, but the set then reacts rather slowly to the actual command. However, the remote control has a 'Back' button to allow you to switch easily between the current and last viewed channels.

The nifty navigational cross allows the user to turn the volume up/down with the left and right arrow keys, and the channel up/down with the top and bottom keys. It is a mystery why other manufacturers need to have extra keys for these functions.

The most natural colors on the TV 26 RN 1 are to be found in the "Warm" preset, although with a color temperature of 9,000 Kelvin, they are still too cool, and dark settings in black-and-white films show a dark blue glimmer. The pictures from analog cable reception are, on the other hand, quite natural, due to proper balancing of the red and green primary colors. For the same reason, this TV produces good skin tones - the color yellow is accurately mixed. On the other hand, laboratory measurements showed that the blue-containing colors cyan and magenta drift too far towards blue.

Some light noise is visible on TV pictures from the analog cable tuner, but this hardly bothers you as it does not lead to any rough streaking patterns. The Orion does not render DVD playback via Scart in the best, flicker-free quality, since the electronics do not de-interlace the incoming signal cleanly enough.

The Orion is at its best in terms of detail if picture and sound are input via HDMI. Despite its relatively low maximum contrast of 670:1, it manages to produce a full, three dimensional-looking picture. In "Lord of the Rings", the 26-incher shows the brighter scenes, for example the sunny patches in a riverside forest, in well balanced colors. The inhabitants' faces have natural, warm red tones. In the darker scenes, however, the Orion drapes the whole scene in blue light. When the pale moonlight falls on Gollum's face, the cool color temperature really shows up. One crazy blunder: 4:3 format signals are always stretched out to 16:9 when using HDMI, and cannot be changed since the TV lacks a separate picture format setting.

The missing picture format button is not important with HDTV material, as content is always reproduced in the 16:9 format. This "HD Ready" TV will process formats up to 1080i via HDMI, and although the TV does not convert interlaced material very well (sports broadcasts, for example), the resulting line flicker is hardly noticeable in reality. When the signal is scaled down from 1080 lines to the 768 vertical lines available on this WXGA-panel, the flicker loses a lot of its intensity. Bearing in mind that the screen is just 26", theater and stage décor in the HD-DVD musical "Phantom of the Opera" looks splendidly sharp.

You notice the small screen size immediately in HD mode. As soon as you go too far from the screen, the eye starts to miss details. The somewhat blue cast, which is most noticeable in darker scenes, is the biggest shortcoming of the Orion. Nevertheless, the colors are not unnatural, and with time you can get used to the slightly cool representation.

Computer Operation:
The Orion is not much use as a PC monitor. Computer images show a lot of flicker and the Windows taskbar is cut off if the input signal is via the HDMI interface. A full signal picture (i.e. no overscan) is only possible via HDMI at 1024 x 768 pixels. That is not, however, the panel's native resolution, so fine text looks accordingly washed out.

Sound Quality:
Who would have thought it? The thin, midrange-heavy stereo sound of the integrated loudspeakers does not give you that movie theater feeling. For a bedroom or office, the sound is enough, but for a small apartment, we would still recommend hooking it up to a decent AV receiver.

Brightness: 28

Contrast: 50

Sharpness: -1

Color Temperature: Warm

* applied to realistic playback from HD DVD/Blu-ray material through the HDMI interface in a darkened environment. Manufacturing and HDMI playback device deviations may necessitate slight adjustment.

Basic but functional: The design of this Japanese 26" LCD is simple but pleasant.

Doubled up: The Orion offers two HDMI and two Scart inputs. The latter will accept RGB, S-Video and Composite signals.

Rare and intuitive: The remote gets by with pleasantly few buttons thanks to a sensibly designed navigation cross.

Too cool for school: Chromaticity lies at 9,000 Kelvin and dark gray looks bluish. Even the mixed colors cyan and magenta are shifted towards blue.