Model: Vizio VW42LF LCD HDTV Complete Model #VW42LFHDTV10A
Reviewer: Robert Wiley
Date: July 2008
INTRODUCTION
Vizio founder and CEO William Wang has done a fantastic job of gaining market acceptance in the U.S. discount retail market. Models such as the VW42LF are selling at brisk pace at some of the nations largest retailers. Vizio is now the number 3 seller of LCD TVs in the U.S. behind Sony and Samsung. The VW42LF is a new 3rd generation 42" LCD 2008 model with some improved features over previous models. Please read below.
PICTURE QUALITY RATINGS: 77/100
Test and Optimum Viewing Distance: 11 feet
720p/1080i/1080p High Definition Picture Quality: We used the outstanding new high def release of The Fifth Element for our testing in High Definition resolutions. Edges were clean post calibration and I felt the TV had a clear presentation with HD content. However, the LCD has a greenish/yellow caste that is ever-present and affects skin tones negatively. Response rate time appeared to be an area of concern with fast moving scenes during the film taking on a jerky appearance. I would contend that the response rate time for this LCD is not as robust as the 7ms the company lists. Occasionally the Vizio picture looked washed out during bright scenes. The 1080i picture image also appeared much too flat and less realistic in color presentation. I expect a much more 3-dimensional effect when viewing high def. One impressive note was that there was no light bleed into the black bars top and bottom the picture image.
Response rate time appeared to be an area of concern with fast
moving scenes during the film taking on a jerky appearance.
Up conversion/Video Processing from 480i: We viewed the original Spiderman DVD release to gauge how effective the LCD upconverted from 480i. This Vizio LCD has a stellar video processing/scaling chip set and comb filter that really up convert well from low end signals. There was still a little background noise in some scenes but it was slight. There was pixel flicker visible from less than 6 feet in a few cases, but overall the scaling and processing component of the Vizio LCD was very impressive. With our HQV Video Resolution Tests, the Vizio VW42LF performed very well with little noticeable “jaggies." There are two drawbacks during 480i playback. The first is the aforementioned slightly greenish/yellow caste to the images and flesh tones. The second is off angle viewing mentioned below. Contrast degrades more quickly with a 480i signal at 30 degrees or more angles than with a high definition signal.
