Sony XBR-46HX909 LED 3D TV Review

In this review of the Sony XBR-46HX909 LED 3D TV, we will look at the 2D and 3D performance of this HDTV along with all the new features in the Sony HX909 series. The HX909 series is the flagship line of 3D TVs being offered by Sony and incorporates Sony’s latest technology and design philosophy. The Sony XBR-46HX909 is a 46 inch LED 3D TV and is the smallest 3D TV in the HX909 series. With excellent image quality, great 3D performance, and drop-dead looks, this is a fantastic, albeit expensive 3D TV that will surely be a hit amongst consumers looking to purchase a high-end 3D TV that features good performance while also providing a futuristic and sleek HDTV look that turns the neighbors green with envy.

Gorgeous, sleek look featuring Sony’s monolithic design philosophyOne of the only LED 3D TVs currently available featuring full array local dimming LED backlighting which provides far superior black-levels than edge-lit local dimming TVs that have unfortunately become the normExcellent black levels, contrast, color accuracy and 2D image qualityExcellent remote control with well thought out layout and button arrangementNarrow viewing angle for both 2D and 3D3D Glasses and IR emitter, WiFi adapter are not included (separate purchase)Steep pricing might deter some consumers

The design and aesthetics of the XBR-46HX909 is one of its outstanding features and is the first thing you will notice about this elegantly styled 3D TV. This features Sony’s “Monolithic” design philosophy, something they deserve special kudos for. This TV looks like a beautiful, elegant, black slab of glass minus any distracting logos and labels on the front face of the TV. Even when turned off, this television can be a centerpiece in your living room. This design involves the front panel glass extending all the way to the edge of the screen where it meets the black metal edge of the panel. The entire panel is only approximately 2.8 inches deep which is quite slim for a full-array local dimming LED backlit 3D TV (More on that later).

It should be noted that while the front glass panel extends all the way to the edge of the screen, the TV still has a narrow bezel, except that in this case the bezel is covered by the front glass panel, which makes for a very nice look.

The XBR-46HX909 is a 46 inch 3D TV that is capable of displaying content at full 1080p resolution (1920×1080 pixels). It can also output Full HD 3D content without any loss of resolution in the 3D content so you can enjoy 2D and 3D Blu-ray content in all its 1080p glory.

As far as viewing angles go, the Sony XBR46HX909 is underwhelming in comparison to top of the line Plasma 3D TVs like the Panasonic TC-P54VT25. However, this is common to all LED and LCD based 3D TVs due to the inherent viewing angle disadvantage of LED/LCD backlighting technology (for more details, be sure to read our LCD vs Plasma 3D TV article). When compared to other LED 3D TVs such as those from rival manufacturer Samsung, the HX909 performance is on par and it allows viewing from roughly 25-30 degrees of- center before the image quality and contrast ratio drops off to unacceptable levels. This is a steep contrast to plasma 3D TVs that can exhibit acceptable viewing angles well over 75-80 degrees off-center on either side of the TV. Depending on the layout of your living room, this could be a significant factor that affects your decision to purchase a plasma or LED 3D TV.

The XBR-46HX909 also features Sony’s latest Opticontrast Panel technology that consists of a surface treatment of the LCD glass panel in conjunction with a special resin sheet that is sandwiched between the LCD panel and the glass panel. The resin sheet and surface treatment work together to minimize back reflection and scattering of incident light on the TV screen thus allowing a significant reduction in glare and an improvement in black levels and image contrast. This Opticontrast panel technology works well and does a great job of reducing glare on this glossy screen.

Full array, Local dimming LED backlights on the Sony HX909 Series

One of the most attractive features of the 46HX909 is its full array of locally dimming backlight LEDs that allow different sections of the screen lower or turn off the backlight if the image in that section is dim or black (See the adjacent image). This allows for a significant improvement in black-levels while boosting the on-screen contrast ratio. An LED TV with a well implemented array of local-dimming LED backlights provides the best possible image quality available with current LED/LCD technology.

The XBR-46HX909 certainly doesn’t disappoint in this department and provides near Plasma like black levels. This is certainly a big achievement because while it is capable of such impressive black levels, it also has the added advantage that comes with LED 3D TVs – high maximum brightness. Brightness level is the Achilles heel of Plasma TV technology, and the HX909 has impressive maximum brightness levels when displaying white images while also exhibiting great black levels. All this means that the Sony XBR-46HX909 exhibits one of the highest contrast ratios currently scene in all the 3D TVs available on the market. Additionally, the Opticontrast panel technology on the HX909 series significantly reduces glare and ambient reflection from the screen thus improving the black levels and contrast ratio further.

When it comes to color performance, the Sony XBR-46HX909 performs admirably well. It maintains a very stable color temperature across shadows and bright areas in the image and also tracks all 3 colors (R, G and B) very well. The color accuracy is also quite good and on the whole, this HDTV features great image quality, excellent black levels, brightness and contrast ratio. The local-dimming might lead to a slight loss of details in shadow regions of the image, but this is not a major issue and in general, the image quality is excellent.

Being an LED 3D TV, backlight uniformity is always a concern for the XBR-46HX909. While the backlight uniformity is pretty good in general, these TVs can exhibit some minor clouding and flashlighting in some cases. We would strongly recommend that you give your new 3D TV a thorough inspection during your “return window” so that you can return it to the store you purchased it from if you are not happy with the backlight uniformity.

The Sony XBR-46HX909 features Sony’s 240Hz MotionFlow PRO technology which essentially means that it incorporates a display panel capable of 240Hz refresh rates to help smooth fast moving content and to reduce flickering and cross-talk when viewing 3D content.

When it comes to videoprocessing, the HX909 is a very capable 3D TV. It can convert 2D content to 3D including streaming video (eg: from Youtube). It also features “Clear 2” processing that inserts a black frame between each displayed frame thus enhancing motion resolution and reducing blurring in fast moving videos at the expense of the total image brightness (not a big issue as this panel is very bright). This technique is referred to as scanning backlighting. The Smooth setting makes video look unnaturally smooth and fake and we recommend turning it off.

The 46HX909 is good at handling blu-ray content at 24fps as it does not need to resort to 3:2 pulldown techniques to display the video content. As a result, blu-rays and DVDs play smoothly without much perceivable judder.

3D performance on the Sony XBR-46HX909 is a bit of a mixed bag. Sony has done a good job of implementing 3D on an LED/LCD TV and the 46HX909 has better 3D performance and 3D quality than the Samsung LED 3D TVs released in 2010. However, the Panasonic VT25 and GT25 Plasma 3D TVs still outperform the 46HX909 when it comes to displaying 3D content. While the 46HX909 has reduced cross-talk, it is still not as low as the Panasonic Plasma 3D TVs. In addition, the low viewing angle of the 46HX909 works against the 3D effect when viewing the content from angles away from the “sweet spot” right along the normal to the TV. The Panasonic plasmas do not have this issue. All in all, the 46HX909 provides a very good 3D experience with the caveat that you need to be seated within the narrow “sweet spot” in front of the TV. While we still recommend the VT25 and GT25 series to consumers basing their purchase purely on 3D performance, we would recommend the HX909 series to those who cannot or do not want a Plasma 3D TV (Plasma’s suffer from lower brightness levels and not providing great image in brightly lit environments).

The XBR-46HX909 is excellent in this department just like all of the Sony’s 3D TVs in 2010-2011. Apart from the ability to stream Netflix, it can also interface with Amazon’s Video on Demand (VOD), Pandora, YouTube, Sony’s Qriocity, Blip.tv and many others. It can also play photos, music and videos off USB thumbdrives that are connected to the USB ports on the TV. Yahoo widgets are unfortunately missing in the HX909 series and might be missed by some consumers.

The Sony XBR46HX909 is the flagship line of 3D Ready TVs from Sony and its pricing certainly reflects this fact. This HDTV features jaw-dropping aesthetics and looks, excellent black levels and image quality and a great integration with streaming media services. When it comes to 3D performance, it performs fairly well, though it is more prone to cross-talk than the excellent Panasonic Plasma 3D TVs and also has a narrow range of viewing angles that actually support the 3D effect. The lack of inclusion of 3D glasses or a 3D transmitter at this price point also work against the TV and we certainly would not recommend it to budget conscious shoppers. However, if you are in the market for a premium HDTV with great 2D image quality, good support for 3D and aesthetics that will make it the focal point in your living room, we would very strongly recommend the Sony XBR-46HX909. For more budget conscious consumers, we would recommend looking at the following 3D TVs: Panasonic TC-P50GT25, Panasonic TC-P50VT25, Sony KDL-46NX810 and the Samsung PN50C8000.

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VIZIO VP505XVT 50" Plasma HDTV Review

These days, I feel like plasma technology is the Rodney Dangerfield of HDTVs. If you look at how LCDs are grabbing market share in the U.S., plasmas get no respect from the general buying public.

I'll admit that I am biased. I prize the production of deep blacks for which plasmas have earned a well-deserved reputation. And when I see a high performance plasma that is value priced like the VIZIO VP505XVT, I must bestow it our Highly Recommended rating.

Since it lacks certain features like Internet connectivity, I would not call this VIZIO a no-compromise HDTV. But if you are simply interested in enjoying prime-time TV and Blu-ray movies on a stunning 50" 1080p plasma display, then at its current street price, the VP505XVT is a no-brainer.

(Editor's Note: At this time, the VP505XVT is only available at Costco.)

The most distinctive design feature on this VIZIO is the half inch black mask all around the outside edge of the screen. I'm not talking about the normal piano black glossy bezel frame, which is a little over one and a half inches.

Inside the bezel, this mask is separate and is integrated into the glass of the screen. When the TV is on, the image comes right to the edge of the mask. I think it adds a dimensionality to the display that I like.

This almost four inch deep plasma TV is four hands full - and two strong backs - because it weighs 96 pounds with its non-swivel stand. I prefer the flexibility of a TV that rotates on its base, though with plasmas, unlike LCDs, you can sit really far off center and the image does not deteriorate.

A wide viewing angle is the good news with plasmas. Traditionally the bad news was that plasma screens tended to be reflective. Most of the plasmas produced in the last couple of years are implementing non-glare filters which solves much of the reflection problem. And I don't find this VIZIO to be particularly glary.

Right now the TV is turned off and my computer monitor, which is directly facing the VP505XVT, is shining bright. If I turn around, I can see the monitor reflecting in the darkened TV screen. But when I flip on the TV, the monitor can hardly be noticed.

And this next piece of advice holds true for any bright light that is directly reflecting into your plasma - or LCD for that matter. Turn it off if it bothers you, that's what I do with the computer monitor.

Below the screen, a cross-hatched, matte black, (with a hint of red), grille encloses the twin, integrated 10W speakers.

On the right side of this HDTV along the edge of the frame are the basic control buttons. A little farther back on that side are two HDMI inputs. That's it. Usually, there's a small convenience panel with at least a few other connections. Not on this TV.

Everything else is in the back. Unluckily, the designers at VIZIO are stubborn about placing all the sockets facing down. I have a hard enough time attaching HDMI cables when I can see the input slot. On these VIZIO's, it's always a matter of blind groping. At least they color code the connectors, if you are limber enough to see them by craning your neck around a four foot wide TV.

(This diagram of the panel has been split and stacked for the sake of readability.)

As you can see this panel contains two more HDMIs (with one stereo Audio In matched to the HDMI 2 input), one Component In (Y,Pb/Cb,Pr/Cr) with stereo Audio Ins, one Composite In (with a stereo Audio In), one S-Video In, one VGA PC input with an Audio In (stereo mini-jack), one stereo analog Audio Out, and one digital Audio Out (optical).

Notice the three Service Ports. The manual offers no reason for the need for three. It does give an ominous warning, "Use of this input for any purpose other than factory authorized service will void the manufacturer's warranty of this equipment."

The one RF antenna connector links to integrated NTSC/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.

For those concerned about the DTV transition coming up, the ATSC tuner is the key. With the proper antenna, you will be able to tune in digital signals broadcast over the air.

At the Consumer Electronics Show, VIZIO was previewing a number of 2009 models that provide Internet connections to access online content. But these TVs will not be available for at least a few more months. And none of their 2008 TVs, including this VP505XVT, supply this functionality.

Also, this XVT does not provide a USB port or an SD Card reader for accessing photo, music or video files to play on the TV.

VIZIO continues to support picture-in-picture capabilities. In fact, their PIP and POP features are some of the best around. You still cannot combine two over-the-air TV sources side-by-side, but you can display a signal from either the HDMI 1 or 2 input next to an image from either HDMI 3 or 4.

I did run across one oddity when I first pushed the PIP button on the remote. I received a message to check the Parental Control feature. Really?

I admit I was stumped so I called Tech Support. After she walked me through the procedure, she demurely informed me that it was detailed in the manual on page 54. Indeed, it is. Though the manual doesn't explain why I have to turn off Parental Control to use the PIP.

VIZIO's remote controls always seem to be stylish as well as comfortable to use. This silver and black programmable remote supports up to four devices and is backlit when you push any of the buttons. The extra contrast afforded by the light is essential because the labels stenciled on some of the smaller buttons are difficult to read without it.

The EPA is now publishing a list of ENERGY STAR qualified TVs. (You can find it here.) Since this endeavor only started in November 2008, the list is not expansive and the VIZIO VP505XVT is not on the list.

Historically, plasma TVs have been the SUVs of HDTVs, big power guzzlers. I just received an email from the Plasma Display Coalition extolling the energy efficiency of new plasma models. Still, this 50" VIZIO does suck up its share of wattage. The manual states that the average power consumption is 440W.

When I see a high number like that, I have to remind myself that this is a 50" display, which is almost 1.7 times larger than a 42" screen. But even doing the math, this plasma ranks above most Energy Star 3 LCDs.

If you have your abacus handy, you may also wish to calculate an annual cost of running the TV. The formula that the EPA uses assumes that the TV is on five hours a day and in Standby for the other 19.

When we turned Off the VP505XVT, our meter dropped to 0. Let's be conservative and say that Standby Power Consumption is .3W and On mode is 440W. Then the Estimated Annual Energy Use would be 805 kWh/year.

You need to check your electric bill to see how much you are paying for a kWh. The national average is 10.4 cents. Doing the multiplication, at that rate, the yearly energy cost is $83.73 or about seven dollars a month.

If you would like to shave a little bit off the power consumption, some Picture Modes gobble up more electricity than others. For example, the brighter Game and Sports defaults are the worst offenders. The muted Movie mode is the most frugal.

To calibrate the TV, we use the Blu-ray version of the Digital Video Essentials DVD called HD Basics. We are playing the DVD on a Sony BDP-S350 Blu-ray player connected to the HDTV with an HDMI cable.

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 VP505XVT.

I usually begin by picking a Picture Mode. VIZIO offers five, Custom, Standard, Movie, Game and Sports. I suggest that you cycle through them as you are watching your favorite programs. If you see one that appeals to you, great. Class is dismissed.

Personally, I avoid brighter choices like Game and Sports. Even though Movie tends to be set too warm for me, I am beginning to favor the direction it takes.

For many people, Standard provides a good starting point from which to begin tweaking. I go straight to Custom because I can switch between it and the Standard and Movie defaults for comparison.

Next, I find the Color Temperature control, which is conveniently located in the main Picture menu. Again, four options are available, Cool, Normal, Warm or Custom.

I usually split the difference between the bluish Cool and the reddish Warm and pick Normal. But for reasons that I will discuss later, I picked Cool, which is the default and the 9300K setting. Cool gives a nice crisp white.

Also, in the Advanced Video menu are settings for items like Flesh Tone and Adaptive Luma. When I am doing my initial setup, I turn these Off.

Back to the main Picture menu, I adjusted Brightness up a few notches from the midpoint of 50. Contrast was dialed down a few more turns below 50.

The test patterns indicated that Color (Saturation) should be around 56. When I switched to watching real video, skin tones were too red, so I tamped Color back to around 50. Tint (Hue) was fine.

The Sharpness slider runs from 0 to 7. Beginning at 2, I see fringing on test patterns. I'm not a big Sharpness fan, therefore I lean towards a 0 or 1 setting. If you want to impress your friends on how sharp your TV looks, push it to 4. Any farther and you are venturing into the Artificial zone.

With those basic adjustments, I was more than happy with the picture quality. Afterward, I did experiment with Adaptive Luma and went back and forth between On and Off. My rule is, if I can't decide, then leave it Off.

After ten minutes of setup from beginning to end, I was finished and content, which is good because the only real fine tuning control is nestled in the Color Temperature feature. If you pick Custom, then you are supplied two groups of adjustments, Gain and Offset. Each has Red, Green and Blue sliders.

Simply, the performance is excellent. VIZIO has implemented the well-respected HQV (Hollywood Quality Video) processing technology in the VP505XVT and it delivers.

I just finished watching the replay on my HD DVR of the amazing finish of the Super Bowl. The VIZIO caught the action as well as Larry Fitzgerald and Santonio Holmes nabbed pigskins.

You will read about 120Hz LCDs that are made for fast moving scenes. Well, plasmas like the VP505XVT operate differently than LCDs and this 120Hz discussion does not apply. Basically, plasmas are inherently capable of handling fast motion.

But if you really want to see the VP505XVT show off, pop in the Blu-ray of Speed Racer. From the opening kaleidoscopic Warner Brothers logo, your eyes will be overindulged in cotton candy color.

Now, I also have the Pioneer KURO 6020 plasma in for review and it's sitting a short two feet away from the VIZIO. Even though the Pioneer 60" KURO is quite a bit more expensive than the VP505XVT, I still thought it was informative to feed them both the same signal and compare.

The first thing I noticed was that to match the KURO's default color temperature, I needed to set the VP505XVT's to Cool. Next, KUROs are known as the kings of deep blacks and though the VIZIO acquitted itself well, the crown is still safely in the Pioneer camp.

I froze frames from a number of different Blu-rays and put my nose next to both screens. Occasionally, I could see how the Pioneer was doing a better job of handling fine detail like the fabric on a coat. Often there was no apparent difference in how the TVs rendered an image.

Remember I was inspecting the screens from only a few inches away, definitely not from a normal viewing distance. Let's just say that all but the most discriminating videophile should be pleased with the video performance of the VP505XVT.

I connected my laptop to the TV with a VGA cable. The manual said that this connection was capable of a 1920 x 1080 resolution and indeed, that is what my humble laptop produced. As you may imagine, high resolution photos looked great on this 50" plasma.

The audio output from the integrated speakers is pretty darn good - not home theater great - just prime-time good. I even like the more spacious effect produced by turning on the SRS TruSurround HD feature. Beyond SRS TDHD, VIZIO only provides the basic Treble, Bass, and Balance controls.

If you are in the market for a well-priced, high performance 50" plasma HDTV, look no farther than the VIZIO VP505XVT. It may not have all the bells and whistles, but we believe its video quality earns it our Highly Recommended rating.

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VIZIO VO37L LCD HDTV Review

Though VIZIO has grown significantly in the past two years, they are still a fairly lean company in the fact that they do not manufacture a wide range of models in any one size.

For example, currently, the VO37L is one of only four 37" HDTVs from VIZIO. All of them are 720p TVs. VIZIO doesn't produce Full HD 1080p TVs smaller than 42". Then again, when I'm viewing 37" TVs, I don't especially feel pixel envy with a 720p display.

We are in the midst of a roundup of 37" LCD HDTVs from different manufacturers. We will review each individually and then aggregate our opinions in a comparison article. This VIZIO is the fourth one in the corral. (You can read the review of the first, an LG 37LG50, here, the second, a Samsung LN37A550, here and the third, a Toshiba REGZA 37RV530U, here.)

(Editor's Note: VIZIO also makes the VO32L, which has similar specs to the VO37L and this review can be applied to it also. The VO37L is available at Costco, Sam's Club and BJ's. The VU37L has similar specs and can be found at Target, Circuit City, Sears, and Dell.)

This VIZIO sports a dual textured bezel, which measures less than two inches on the sides and top. The inside bevel of the frame is a glossy piano black. Then comes a matte black grid texture with a narrow outer lip of glossy black.

The almost four inch deep TV weighs less than 37 pounds with its non-swivel stand.

Recessed on the right side of the VO37L is a convenience panel with an HDMI In, a Component In, a set of Composite inputs and a Headphone stereo minijack.

Unlike most new TVs, VIZIO is still mounting the larger connection panel on the back and facing it down, which makes plugging in the cables more difficult. This 37" TV is not that troublesome to twist around, but it's still would be easier if the connections were facing out.

The panel contains two HDMI inputs (with one set of stereo Audio Ins), one Component input (YPbPr) with matching stereo Audio In, one VGA (15 pin D-Sub) with a minijack Audio In, one Composite (with Audio), a digital Audio Out (optical), a stereo analog Audio Out and a Service Port.

(This diagram of the panel has been split and stacked for the sake of readability.)

The one RF antenna input connects to integrated NTSC/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.

The VO37L does not offer a USB port to upload JPEG and MP3 files to the TV. Nor does it have an Ethernet port to connect to your home computer network or the Internet, but none of the 37" TVs we are reviewing does have this feature.

VIZIO does offer both Picture-in-Picture and Picture-outside-Picture capabilities with controls for sizing and positioning insets. You are limited in the combinations of sources. For example, you cannot PIP two HDMI sources.

The remote control is unusual because of its size. Most remotes measure about 8 or 9" long. The VO37L remote is a compact 6 1/4" in length. It can pull off this shrinkage because it isn't a multi-function control. Therefore it doesn't contain the extra buttons for operations like DVD playback.

If you are wondering where the Menu button is, it's the orange and white V, which lights up when you press any of the buttons. Beyond that, the remote is not backlit.

We have begun to measure the power consumption of our review units. Our process is straightforward. We plug the TV into a watt meter, called Watts up? Pro, and take a simple sampling of readings during the playback of a full screen video clip.

The first measurement is at the TV's default picture settings, which are often some form of Vivid, which is exactly the label that VIZIO uses. This is usually a high number because it takes more power to maintain a bright picture.

Our Power Consumption measurement at the Vivid default was between 160 and 161 watts. In their specifications, VIZIO states the Power Consumption as 200W (max).

We also take a reading after we adjust the picture to our preference, which is a much less bright image. The power consumption dropped to the range between 80 to 81W. Of course, depending on how you like to set up your TV, your mileage may vary.

We found that if you simply changed to the Standard default, the reading dropped to about 130W.

Finally, we turn off the TV and measure how much power it is using. Many older TVs still suck a lot of electricity even when they are switched off. When Off, this VIZIO doesn't even register on our meter. And indeed, they state that in Standby the consumption is less than one watt. Start up time from Standby is about six seconds.

To calibrate the monitor, we use the the Blu-ray version of the Digital Video Essentials DVD called HD Basics. We are playing the DVD on a Pioneer BDP-94HD Blu-ray player connected to the HDTV with an HDMI cable.

We use the test patterns to adjust black level, white level, and color bias. When we were testing the VO37L with the other 37" HDTVs, we usually set the player to output a 1080p signal. As I mentioned, this VIZIO's Maximum Resolution.' class=gloss>native resolution is 720p, but it does accept 1080p signals. When we were just setting up this TV, we told the Blu-ray player to output 720p.

The Picture menu provides the basic adjustments, Contrast, Brightness, Color (Saturation), Tint (Hue), Sharpness, and Backlight. When it comes to Picture Mode presets, VIZIO was in the sporting mood and offers Custom, Standard, Movie, Game, Vivid, Football, Golf, Basketball and Baseball. I'll leave it to you to switch between the modes and see if you can perceive the differences in color and sharpness.

I picked Custom and began by turning down the Backlight.

Next, I found the Color Temperature controls in the Advanced Video menu. You have four choices, Cool, Medium, Warm and Custom. The default is Cool, which is the 9300K setting. I chose Custom.

Under each option are Red, Green, and Blue sliders that allow you to fine tune the color. After I set Brightness, Contrast, Color, and Tint, I came back to this menu and lowered Green a little to fix a slight greenish shadow that I was seeing.

For me, the biggest adjustment from the defaults was Color, which I turned down because the picture was simply too saturated for my tastes. Even with the Color lowered, the soccer pitch in the Olympics was realistically green. At the higher setting, it tended to look overly fertilized.

It didn't take long to dial in a totally satisfactory picture. If you wish to tweak further, in the Advanced Video Features, VIZIO includes Color Enhancement, Advanced Adaptive Luma and Enhanced Full On/Off contrast measures the ratio of the light output of an all white image (full on) and the light output of an all black (full off) image. 2) ANSI contrast is measured with a pattern of 16 alternating black and white rectangles. The average light output from the white rectangles is divided by the average light output of the black rectangles to determine the ANSI contrast ratio. When comparing the contrast ratio of video devices make sure you are comparing the same type of contrast. Full On/Off contrast will always be a larger number than ANSI contrast for the same video device." class=gloss>Contrast Ratio. I like to leave these Off or in a neutral state when I am doing my initial setup.

When compared to the other 37" TVs lined up in our testing facility, the picture quality of the VIZIO VO37L held up very well. The colors are rich, while skin tones are true.

One of the questions is how does this 720p TV compare to the 1080p sets? If it is a matter of detail or sharpness, I can't see a difference - at least not at a normal viewing distance. Perhaps if you pulled out your monocle and went nose to screen, you could say that the 1080p TVs were sharper.

Once again, with standard definition material, I saw a tendency for this TV to crush the blacks, which makes the image look muddy. But, come on, we are talking about standard definition, which for me is synonymous with mud.

High definition content looks very good. I'm watching Tarsem Singh's visually compelling The Cell, and I'm pleased with the rendition. I just wish the screen were larger, which in its way is a compliment.

All LCDs like to claim that they have a 178 degree viewing angle, but in practice, you wouldn't want to seat your most obnoxious neighbor that far off center. The image simply is too washed out. With the VO37L, you experience this problem more on the vertical than the horizontal. If you are looking from above or below, the image deteriorates rather quickly. It is much better from the sides.

I connected my laptop through the VGA Out to the TV's VGA In. The highest compatible resolution is 1366 x 768, which is the TV's native resolution. The PC input has its own limited set of picture adjustments. After dropping Backlight to 50, reading Internet pages was comfortable.

The audio performance from the integrated pair of 12W speakers was good enough to make you wish it was better. I always hoped that I could make one more adjustment to squeeze out sound that would make me forget about a separate dedicated audio system.

The Audio menu has presets titled Flat, Rock, Pop, Classic and Jazz. If you open up the five band Equalizer, you will see how those modes differ. I like to turn down the higher frequencies. I also felt that the Surround feature made voices less distinct, so I turned it Off.

But as I said, no matter what I tried, I was never totally satisfied with the audio. It's definitely decent enough for viewing the Olympics and Oprah. But if you are planning on watching Chariots of Fire or The Color Purple, then be a champ and spring for an AV receiver and a good set of speakers.

The VO37L's video performance may surprise videophiles who turn up their noses at a 720p TV. For the rest of us hoi polloi, this VIZIO provides a value alternative to 1080p TVs.

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ViewSonic N4290p LCD HDTV Review

A few months ago, I reviewed ViewSonic's N4285p and loved its ease of use combined with great image quality. This slimmer, trimmer, new generation N4290p maintains that heritage while upgrading its feature list with items like a third

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 connection.

ViewSonic gained its reputation by making computer monitors. The four new models in this 90 Series expands their presence in the HDTV marketplace. If they stick to their blueprint of designing reasonably priced, straightforward, good looking TVs, then I foresee a bright future for them as a TV vendor.

(Editor's Note: Of the other three models in the 90 Series, the 47-inch N4790p, which ships in July, has similar specs to the N4290p and this review can be applied to it also. The 26-inch N2690p and the 32-inch N3290p are 720p HDTVs.)

Tipping the scales at 46 pounds (with its swivel stand), remarkably, this new N4290p has shed almost twenty pounds from its portlier N4285p cousin. This 90 is also about a third thinner with a depth of less than four inches.

Keeping with this slimming regime, the piano black bezel has been reduced to an inch and a half. Beyond the sleeker look, the TV is now simply easier to maneuver and will fit into tighter cabinets.

The front of the TV is only adorned with the ViewSonic name and the Power indicator light. The two speakers are encased in a textured matte black curve below the screen.

The Control Buttons panel is offset on the right edge of the TV. On the back on the left is an easily accessible connection panel that provides one HDMI input, one Composite (with Audio), an S-Video, a headphone jack and a Service port.

Next to that panel is a larger one with its connections facing out towards the back, which makes them still fairly easy to see and reach. This panel supplies two more HDMI inputs (one has matching stereo Audio Ins), two Component (YPbPr) with matching stereo Audio Ins, one Composite (with Audio), one VGA (15 pin D-Sub) with a minijack Audio In, an S-Video, an analog stereo Audio Out and an SPDIF (optical) digital Audio Out.

The one RF connector can take either an antenna or a cable signal and links to the internal NTSC/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. There is no CableCARD slot.

With the added third HDMI - the N4285p only provides two - the N4290p brings itself up to the current standard for 1080p HDTVs. Still, there is no USB input that accepts JPEGs photos or MP3 audio files and no Ethernet port for connecting to the Internet or home network. Also, the TV offers no picture-in-picture features.

The boxy rectangular universal remote makes up for its lack of ergonomic styling with big backlit buttons that are easy to see and operate. For a universal remote, the designers did a good job of organizing the layout. I would prefer dedicated buttons for individual video sources, but if you are only using one or two inputs, you won't feel deprived.

Our basic setup procedure has changed recently. To calibrate the monitor, we now are using the Blu-ray version of the Digital Video Essentials DVD titled HD Basics. We are playing the DVD on a Pioneer BDP-94HD Blu-ray player connected to the HDTV with an HDMI cable.

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 ViewSonic N4290p.

In the Video menu, ViewSonic provides the basic adjustments, Contrast, Brightness, Sharpness, Color, Tint, and the ever more common, Backlight.

Oddly, the Color Temperature controls are squirreled away in a separate Feature menu, which made setup a bit more cumbersome. Normally, Color Temp is included in the Video menu. Since you usually set it once and leave it, not having it in its normal location is not a big inconvenience.

Except I had to search for it because, for some unexplained reason, the N4290p manual does not contain a section on the Video, Audio, or Feature menus. The rest of the manual seems to be complete. I can only assume this omission will be rectified with a online PDF of a full manual.

Now, back to setup, unlike many HDTVs, this ViewSonic does not come with preset Video modes like Vivid, Standard and Cinema. The default settings push Backlight to its max of 10, which gives a Vivid-like look.

The Backlight control adjusts the brightness of the internal lamp on an LCD TV, which effects the overall brightness of the TV. Since, our testing facility has controlled lighting, I have a tendency to push Backlight down.

I started by dropping it to 3. Depending on your room, your setting might be different. I suggest that you adjust Backlight and Color Temperature (for me, I pick Normal instead of Cool or Warm) before you move on to Brightness and Contrast.

According to the test patterns, I boosted Brightness a few notches from its default of 50. Dropped both Contrast and Color below 50. Tint was pulled towards Red, though my eye wanted to leave it in the middle, which is a neutral (not biased towards Red or Green) setting.

It didn't take long to dial in a highly acceptable image, which is good because this ViewSonic doesn't provide any fine color adjustment tools.

There is an Advanced Video menu that contains the wayward Color Temperature along with controls for Noise Reduction, 3D Y/C, and Dynamic Contrast. As always, I set these to Off until I finish my basic tweaks. Then I try them one at a time. I still haven't decided if I like Dynamic Contrast On or Off.

I appreciate a TV that you can tune in quickly and then sit back and enjoy without feeling the urge to constantly retweak the picture. This ViewSonic is that type of TV.

As I run through some of my reference scenes from high definition DVDs, I am quite satisfied with skin tones, landscapes and costumes. Colors are rich and true, and textures are detailed and luscious.

I didn't experience that astonishment at the depth of black levels that I did with the N4285p, but blacks were still very good for an LCD.

Though those deep blacks fade to dark gray if you are sitting off center from a straight on viewing angle. I think any more than 30 degrees off center and you'll definitely notice that the image is washing out, especially during dark scenes.

Luckily, this TV does swivel on its stand about 20 degrees each way, backwards and forwards, which gives you some flexibility in where you sit.

Also, as much as we can hope that standard definition content will look reasonably close to HD quality, this ViewSonic does not succeed in an extreme makeover of SD programming, which can still look nasty. But as more and more television shows are being produced in high def, that deficiency is less and less of a consideration.

Next, I plugged my laptop into this ViewSonic with a VGA cable. I set my video card to output 1920 x 1080 resolution, which the TV accepted. The image was shifted, cutting off a small slice of the left side of the Windows desktop. I solved that problem by switching on the Auto Adjust feature, which nudged the screen back in place.

My initial reaction was to reach for my shades because the white backgrounds of Internet pages were way too bright. I pushed the Backlight down from 7 to 3 so my retinas wouldn't revolt. The VGA Video menu only contains Brightness, Contrast, and Backlight controls, but no Color adjustments.

I found that the text on some sites was not fully formed, which made reading more difficult. But generally, browsing the Internet on a 42" screen is a pleasant though unsettling experience if you usually view a monitor that's one quarter the size.

On the other hand, looking at photographs full screen in Photoshop is an unmitigated delight. If you are performing color critical tasks, you will need to adjust color with your computer's software because of the VGA menu's lack of color controls.

Finally, the two 10W speakers are adequate for general soap opera and sports watching. Unlike the N4285p, the Audio Menu on this TV does not offer any Reverb or Equalizer features, which I enjoyed twiddling with.

If you plan on admiring the sonic qualities of a concert DVD like the Blu-ray of Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds performing Live at Radio City, please invest in a separate audio system. Your ears will thank you.

Like its colorful cousin, the N4285p, the ViewSonic N4290p displays a lush, saturated, satisfying image, especially when feeding it HD programs. Make sure that you sit front and center because the picture does wash out if you are watching off to the side.

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VIZIO XVT323SV LCD HDTV Review

32" 1080p Edge-lit LED LCD HDTV, $930

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.

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