Unlike most companies, Loewe doesn't just introduce new TV ranges; it also regularly upgrades models already out there in the marketplace. This is precisely what has happened with an old favourite, the Spheros R 37. A 37in slice of premium LCD TV luxury that wowed us when we fi rst saw it last year, it's now back at half the original price and with two key additions: a built-in digital tuner, and Loewe's new Image processing engine.

The deep black, glass-fronted fi nish of our High Gloss Basalt test sample is particularly exquisite, regardless of which of the various accompanying stand options you choose.

Elsewhere, the hefty external connections box of the previous version is ditched in favour of connections built into the TV's rear panel. This approach makes it a tidier solution for most buyers, but it might not suit people wanting to wall-hang it.

The actual confi guration of connections has changed too. The old DVI socket is replaced by an HDMI input, but three Scarts have been knocked down to two. And only one of those is RGB-enabled.

Other stuff remains the same, with highlights being a set of component video inputs, Loewe System Link options, and a D-Sub jack for hooking up a PC.

And so to the digital tuner. The addition of this to such a luxurious TV is really only fi tting, and it's happily backed up by a CAM slot and support for the Freeview 8-day electronic guide. This is the fi rst time we've seen the EPG up and running on a Loewe IDTV. It's very nicely presented, with the TV picture continuing to play in reduced form on the left of the screen.

Do note that Loewe now offers a stepup version of the R 37 (the Masterpiece) that adds a second digital tuner to the mix as well as a built-in HDD PVR system.

The Image processing system added to the latest Spheros R 37 arrives with a strong wind in its sails after first impressing us on Loewe's innovative Individual LCD range. It offers a suite of improvements targeted at boosting contrast, colours (both richness and tone), and sharpness.

However, my feelings towards the R 37's pictures are actually more mixed than I'd expected, veering between hugely impressed and slightly disappointed.