I recently reviewed VIZIO's XVT473SV and bestowed on it our Highly Recommended rating.
When the opportunity arose to test out the XVT323SV, which is the 32" model in VIZIO's king of the hill XVT series, I decided to take it for a spin and see how it compared to its XVT kin.
This smaller HDTV sports many of the same features as its bigger brothers like built-in Wi-Fi capability, a strong lineup of streaming Internet content providers and a cool customized Bluetooth Universal Remote Control with a slide out QWERTY keypad.
But it does not offer the exact same video technology. The major difference between the two models is in the method of backlighting the LCD screen.
Both TVs use LEDs, but the XVT473SV deploys a full array of LEDs directly behind the LCD display. This 32" XVT323SV places the LEDs along the edge of the screen.
I'm a fan of the direct-lit method over edge lighting because often edge-lit TVs do not disperse the light as evenly across the screen, which causes hot spots, (more brightness), along the edges.
As a rule, direct-lit LED TVs yield much more consistent blacks, which translates to better picture quality.
I found that the edge-lit XVT323SV does a better-than-most job of evenly spreading the light, though it still doesn't reach direct-lit quality. Then again, I don't know of a direct-lit LED TV in the 32" size.
Also, I have not encountered a consumer 32" TV that can play 3D content. And this VIZIO is no exception. It is not 3D-ready.
But if you are in the market for a high-end 32" TV with a truckload of features and a boatload of performance, then the XVT323SV should be high on your list.
(Editor's Note: VIZIO also makes the 37" XVT373SV, which is similar to its 32" little brother and this review of the XVT323SV can apply to both.)
Performance: 4.5
As a rule, I'm adverse to giving LED edge-lit TVs any rating higher than 4.0 because currently the technology just can't match the picture quality from LED direct-lit TVs or plasmas. But the VIZIO XVT323SV comes reasonably close, which is high praise. And its audio quality is fine, though too bright. Features: 4.5 With a WiFi connection built-in and a host of Internet content partners, this HDTV is chock full of goodies. Though at this time, you cannot plug in a USB drive or access files on your home network. And if you are looking for a 3D-ready VIZIO TV, you will have to wait a while longer. Ease of Use: 4.5 VIZIO does a good job of guiding you through the setup process. Though to explore all of the features on the XVT323SV will take some time. Value: 4.0 
With an MSRP of $930, this edge-lit LED 1080p HDTV is at the top end of VIZIO's line of 32" models. You are definitely paying for the Internet connectivity features and high-end performance of that XVT (Extreme VIZIO Technology). Even with a street price up to $200 less, there are less expensive - albeit less impressive - 32" TVs in the marketplace. But this holiday season, if you can find the XVT323SV for under $650, then consider treating yourself to a 5 Star value.
Ratings are relative to when the review was written. The obvious example is Value, what you could purchase for $2000 two years ago or even two months ago would seem like a bad value for that price now. We have given only a precious few 5 Star ratings, which we reserve for truly outstanding accomplishment.One of the advantages of edge-lit over direct-lit is that the edge-lit TVs are often thinner. And indeed, the XVT323SV, at two inches, is an inch skinnier than the XVT473SV.
Other than that, the two models are similar in design and features. But rather than referring you back to the earlier review, I will recycle some of my descriptions and use them in this review when appropriate.
When the TV is turned off, you can see that the glass on the front of the screen employs some sort of glare filter, which reduces the effect of any direct reflections. When the TV is on, glare is really not a problem for me.
The TV does not swivel on its stand, but the viewing angle is fairly good, though you will notice some washing out at severe viewing angles.
The VIZIO designers have combined all of the usual operational buttons (Power, Channels, Input Source, Volume) into one silver Jag wheel located along the back of left edge of the TV.
By pressing or turning the wheel, you can handle all the basic functions. To navigate deeper into the menus, you still need the remote control, which I will discuss later.
Above the Jag wheel on the left side is a convenience panel with one
HDMI supports standard, enhanced, or high-definition video, plus multi-channel digital audio, and interactive controls on a single cable. It transmits all ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committe) HDTV standards and supports 8-channel digital audio. First product releases using HDMI occurred in 2003." class=gloss>HDMI input and three USB ports.
These three inputs are a bit of a mystery. The manual only says that they are "Reserved for future functions." I've been informed that they will be activated with a firmware update, but I was not told what those functions will be.
The major omission is that, at this time, the USB ports will not accept a USB flash drive containing music, photos or videos. Many of the VIZIO TVs that I have reviewed lately have included this capability. Why this top of the line series does not is puzzling.
(Editor's update: VIZIO has given me a target date of mid November for USB support. They say that "several codecs for USB playback are being worked on and at this moment we don't have the exact list of what will be included in the release. But, minimally we will support MP3 and JPEG. Additional codecs can be rolled out in Firmware updates as they are confirmed working.")
On the back of the TV are two groups of connections. The top collection is facing out and includes one set of Component video (YPbPr) Ins (with one matching stereo Audio In), and one Composite video In (with one matching stereo Audio In). (As always, I recommend using Composite only for troubleshooting.)
If you want to feed the audio out to a sound bar or another speaker system, VIZIO provides one stereo analog Audio Out and one optical digital Audio Out.
The LAN port is for connecting to the Internet with an Ethernet cable. The XVT323SV also has an integrated WiFi 802.11n dual-band wireless connection.
Below that group, with their connections facing down are three more HDMI inputs, one RGB PC In (with a matching stereo minijack Audio out above it), and one RF antenna connector, which links to integrated ATSC/QAM tuners.
Since the tuner system is Clear QAM compatible, you can attach your cable TV signal directly into the RF connector and tune in unscrambled cable stations.
With the ATSC tuner and the proper antenna, you also will be able to tune in digital signals broadcast over-the-air.
As more TV owners are looking to double purpose their big screen for viewing less traditional programming, streaming Internet content is becoming a popular alternative.
To access VIZIO's content providers, you press the VIA (VIZIO Internet Apps) button on the remote.
VIZIO has teamed up with many of the big names for streaming movies and TV programs, Netflix, Vudu, and Amazon on Demand.
I will continue to repeat the following piece of advice because I believe it will make your streaming experience more pleasurable. If you are serious about obtaining good streaming video picture quality, you will need fast and robust bandwidth from your Internet provider, ideally around 10Mbps.
Some sites suggest as low as 2.5Mbps, but if anyone else in your house is accessing the network, the video playback will deteriorate. At least try to have around 5Mbps.
One last point, I know wireless is the craze and I hate running Ethernet cables from here to kingdom come, but a wired connection is still the best bet, especially when you are streaming HD content. Even the VIZIO manual states, "A wired connection may provide a more consistent connection depending on the conditions in your home environment."
But if you are set on going wireless, I suggest that you opt for a 802.11n router to feed the dual band wireless adapter that VIZIO has built in to the XVT473SV.
Beyond the streaming movie widgets, VIZIO provides other video streaming apps. For a wider range of programs, I particularly like the 40 channels that are aggregated under the Web Videos widget. Major outlets like CBS, Fox, WB and PBS usually offer only clips from their programs.
The real fun comes in exploring offerings from sites like Atom (comedy) or crunchyroll (Japanese anime). Occasionally, you'll find a gem like the TED channel's (Technology, Entertainment, Design - ideas worth spreading) presentation by Carter Emmart demoing the 3D Atlas of the Universe.
Or you can pig out watching DeliciousTV, then feel fat after viewing Ford Models Fashion, and finally slim back down with ExerciseTV.
For the social butterflies among you, VIZIO furnishes both Facebook and Twitter widgets.
Music lovers will revel in the choices from Rhapsody and Pandora. Photo freaks can feast on Flickr.
And the list goes on. I counted 39 widgets including the basic News, Business and Sports from Yahoo and your city's temperature and forecast from AccuWeather.
The one obvious MIA VIA is YouTube. It is currently not offered.
The other major feature that is not provided is the ability to connect the XVT323SV to your home network. Add that to the lack of USB support for flash drives and you cannot directly playback your stash of music, photos or video files on to your TV.
If you want USB playback and YouTube, you can find any number of Blu-ray players or standalone media servers that supply these capabilities.
This 32" TV does include both PIP (Picture-in-Picture) and POP (Picture-outside-picture) modes. But as with most TVs, the combination of sources is limited. For example, you cannot mix two HDMI sources at once.
The non-backlit remote control is stubbier than usual, but the buttons are well laid out and the labels are easy to read.
The real surprise is when you slide the bottom of the remote out to reveal a QWERTY keyboard, which makes tweeting so much easier.
This remote can be operated in either IR or Bluetooth mode. IR (infrared) is the traditional method, but it requires you to point the remote at the TV.
Bluetooth has a similar range of around 30 feet, but you do not have to aim the remote at the TV for it to work.
If you want the convenience of the Bluetooth mode, you will need to pair it with the television. During the initial power-up of the XVT323SV, the Setup App will lead you through the simple procedure.
If you want to activate Bluetooth later, the manual is well written with photos and screen shots that guide you through setting up and using all aspects of the TV.
To its credit, the manual does a better than average job of explaining items like the Advanced Picture options.
On May 1, 2010, the EPA implemented Version 4.1 of the ENERGY STAR Program Requirements for TVs. They are now publishing a list of TVs that that meet this stricter standard. (You can find it here.) The VIZIO XVT323SV is on the list.
The EPA states that this VIZIO's On Mode Power is 69W and Standby Power Consumption is .7W. Based on the formula that the TV is on five hours a day and in Standby for the other 19, the Estimated Annual Energy Use is 130.78 kWh/year.
You need to check your electric bill to see how much you are paying for a kWh. The rate that I have been using in previous reviews is 10.4 cents. Doing the multiplication, at that rate, the yearly energy cost is $13.60.
Since manufacturers are not attaching those yellow ENERGY STAR tags that you find on air conditioners and refrigerators, you will have to study the ENERGY STAR list to see how the XVT323SV compares to other 32" TVs.
From a quick perusal, this VIZIO is perhaps a little more power hungry than the average but still in the ballpark. (The Maximum On Mode Power for Energy Star Qualification is 76W for 32" screens.)
The first time that you ever turn on this TV, the Setup App will walk you through procedures like turning on the Bluetooth feature on your remote and more importantly, on connecting your TV to the Internet.
To calibrate the TV, we have added a third disc, WOW (World of Wonder) from Disney, to our usual two, the Blu-ray version of the Digital Video Essentials DVD called HD Basics and the Spears & Munsil High Definition Benchmark Blu-ray DVD.
For this TV, we played the DVDs on two Blu-ray players, first on the LG BD590 and then later on the Samsung BDP-2500, both connected to the HDTV with an HDMI cable.
My experience with the two players is why I hesitate to give exact settings because I had to adjust the TV differently for each player. And my adjustments will probably differ from yours in small or big ways.
With that said, I will describe my process and results.
We use the test patterns to adjust black level, white level, and color bias. The player is set to output a 1080p signal, which is the Maximum Resolution.' class=gloss>native resolution of the XVT323SV.
I always suggest that you test drive the Picture modes provided by the TV. If you find one that you like, pick it and quit. Life's one big picnic.
VIZIO offers a long list of Picture modes: Standard, Movie, Game, Vivid, Football, Golf, Basketball, Baseball, and Custom.
Cruising through them, you can be educated by examining what adjustments were made to achieve a certain quality. For example, Basketball pumps up the color by changing the Color Enhancement setting to Rich Color.
Take a long, hard look at the Movie default, which is closest to a "proper" calibration setting. Though I realize that Movie may be too muted for some of you, especially if you are watching sports.
I chose Custom and went into the Advanced Picture Settings and turned Off everything like Color Enhancement, Adaptive Luma, and Ambient Light Sensor.
I like to adjust initial settings without the interference of these options. For example, if Ambient Light Sensor is On, then you have no control over the Backlight setting.
There is one exception with the XVT323SV, I left Smart Dimming turned On. I really like this feature and therefore I figured that I should have it engaged when I am setting up the display.
Then, I began with Color Temperature. The choices are Cool, Computer, Normal and Custom. Notice that Warm isn't an option.
I picked Normal, which tends to be a little Warm. (For the geeks, Normal sets the White Point to 6500K.)
If you really want to tweak, you can individually adjust the Gain and Offset for Red, Green and Blue.
Next I worked my way down the Picture Settings menu. I moved Backlight to its midpoint of 50. Your number may vary depending on the lighting conditions in your room.
Of course, if the light really varies, then you might consider turning on the Ambient Light Sensor and letting it adjust the Backlight according to the light in the room.
Moving on, according to the test patterns, (when using the Samsung player), Brightness was 51, Contrast dropped to 51, and Color to 47. Tint was unchanged.
Any setting over 4 for Sharpness started to create fringing on the edges of lines. I left it at 4.
This initial process was quick and easy. Better yet, the results were quite satisfactory. With other TVs, often I have to go back and turn Color down even more because skin tones look too red. But with the XVT323SV, skin tones looked natural after the initial adjustments.
I was very pleased with the results. If you wish to fiddle, then proceed back to the Advanced Picture menu and experiment with Adaptive Luma and Color Enhancement.
Before we leave this menu, we should cover the Smooth Motion Effect and Real Cinema mode features. This VIZIO LCD is a 120Hz display.
I have often discussed the MEMC (motion estimation, motion compensation) technology that interpolates 60 frame per second content (60Hz) and creates 120 frames per second (120Hz). You can read a lengthy description of the process in my earlier review of the VIZIO SV471XVT.
Let me cut to the chase. Basically, you should be fine with Smooth Motion at Low and Real Cinema at Smooth.
Even at these settings, I found that the Alice in Wonderland Blu-ray was way too sharp and video-like, disconcertingly so. When watching movies, try turning off Real Cinema and Smooth Motion for a softer, more film-like image.
Finally, before you can enjoy many of the Internet apps, you must initialize them. Some, like Netflix, require a subscription and then you activate your TV on the Netflix site. Others, like Facebook or Pandora, simply require you to enter your ID and password.
If you read my review of the XVT473SV, you'll know that I was over the moon about its full-array TruLED backlighting with Smart Dimming. I'm not as enamored with the edge lighting on the XVT323SV.
The blacks are just not as deep or silky as they are on the direct-lit 47" model. But I will admit that VIZIO did an admirable job of eliminating those hot spots that are often seen with edge-lit TVs and producing some of the best picture quality that I have experienced from this technology.
In addition, I realize that a 32" screen might seem too big to do double duty as a computer monitor, but times are changing. I hooked it up to my computer using a It can also carry an analog signal and comes as DVI-I (integrated - analog and digital), DVI-D (digital only) and DVI-A (analog only). Dual link DVI connections add additional resolution capabilities. Digital cable lengths should not exceed 15 feet. Specifications on DVI are available at www.ddwg.org. Click for more details on DVI." class=gloss>DVI to HDMI cable, and the Internet looked great. Text was easy to read. I asked myself, why not use it in a home office?
As for audio performance, I often cringe when I think about the audio that comes out of those underpowered speakers that are usually integrated into TVs. But with the XVT323SV, the audio quality from the pair of 10W speakers is surprisingly good, definitely fine for everyday purposes.
The speakers are too bright for me, which means that they are a bit too responsive in the mid and high range and can't reproduce the full bodied lower notes.
Though when I paired the TV with a sound bar and subwoofer, the aural reproduction from the combination was quite satisfactory, especially for a small TV viewing room.
VIZIO does offer a few audio enhancements like SRS TruSurround HD (that expands the sound) and SRS TruVolume (that smooths out spikes in volume).
If you turn off TruSurround, you can adjust the audio with a five band equalizer.
VIZIO has stuffed a bundle of compelling features into the 32" LED edge-lit XVT323SV. With top notch picture quality, this 1080p HDTV would be ideal in the bedroom or a home office.
0 comments:
Post a Comment