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More…Who knew that you could get an image this good for a mere grand? Even though the Vizio VP42 costs less than any other television in our November issue's HDTV roundup, and four of the TVs cost at least twice as much, it managed to come in second in our image-quality tests. If all you care about is the best picture for the best price, this is the flat-panel set to buy.
Vizio VP42
Pricing
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- Spec Navigator
- Screen Specs
- Broadcast Standards & Resolutions
- Dimensions and Weight
- Interface Connections
- Other Features
- Adjustments
- Aesthetics
- Included Hardware
Screen Specs
| Diagonal screen size | 42 inches |
| Display type | Plasma |
| Maximum resolution | 1024 x 768 |
| Contrast ratio | 10000 |
| Brightness | 1200 cd/m^2 |
| Horizontal viewing angle | 160 ° |
| Vertical viewing angle | 160 ° |
Dimensions and Weight
| Width | 41.26 inches |
| Depth | 4.3 inches |
| Height | 29.8 inches |
| Weight | 66 pounds |
| Wall-Mountable | Yes |
Interface Connections
| Other Interfaces | service port |
| Input |
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| Output |
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PCWorld Rating, September 15, 2007
5 User Reviews Add your own »
$760.67
From 1 Vendor
Get Best Prices »
- Lab Tested
- How We Test HDTVs »
Pros
Very low price
Great picture
Cons
Difficult to set up and use
No burn-in prevention features
Bottom Line
It's a bare-bones set, but the picture earned high marks, as did the bargain price. It lacks burn-in prevention features.
Vizio VP42
VP42 Review, by Lincoln Spector September 20, 2007
Such quality is all the more amazing when you consider its lack of 1080i or 1080p capabilities. Usually I can recognize a 1080p picture, especially when viewing chapter 7 of the Mission: Impossible III Blu-ray disc. But the VP42 had me completely fooled. (Of course, my previous 1080p experience was with significantly larger sets.)
We gave this television high marks straight down the line. Aside from a bit of shimmering on facial stubble in one test, I didn't see anything I didn't like.
Unfortunately I can't say the same for the VP42's setup and menu system, which were identical to those of the Vizio Gallevia GV42LF LCD set. Without exception, the inputs are difficult to get to, and the on-screen menus--which present you with small, blue text against a blue background--are needlessly hard to read. Another inconvenience: Once you've run the setup wizard, you can never run it again.
Nor are there many extra features beyond a convenient program guide--and even this failed to identify a number of the channels it was receiving. There's no headphone jack, and no USB port for displaying your photos and MP3s from an external player. The set does have picture-in-picture, but as there's no PiP button on the remote, the feature isn't particularly convenient to use.
Because this is a plasma set, burn-in may be an issue. Yet the VP42 is the only plasma we looked at that offers no burn-in prevention features. A Vizio representative assured me that it wasn't an issue; let's hope he's right. At a price like this, it's probably a chance worth taking.
The VP42's modest-size remote has many small, difficult-to-find buttons. It isn't programmable and has no PiP button, and the buttons don't glow in the dark.
Lincoln Spector
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PCWorld Lab Results
- Rating Breakdown
-
79
-
60
-
66
- See Complete Lab Results »
79
77
79
80Performance
| Brightness and Contrast | Good |
| Color Quality | Good |
| Detail | Good |
| DVD Image Quality | Good |
| High-Definition Image Quality | Good |
| Interface Tested | HDMI |
| Overall Quality | Good |
| Standard-TV Image Quality | Very Good |
User Reviews
Review Now! Already own it? Tell us What You Think
User Reviews From Around the Web
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Reviewed by: Snafuinmyshoe
Strengths: Great blacks, great contrast, excellent features(many of which are usually reserved for much higher priced sets)
Weaknesses: Some text appears distorted(usually commercials)
Overall: This TV looks great in HD. I have read several reviews about poor sound quality. In my opinion the sound is good to decent. Remember, you won't get surround sound from the TV itself(or any TV for that matter). So you could spend alot more than this set costs and still not be fully satisfied with the sound. I love the picture and the full set of features( 2 HDMI slots, universal remote, all the inputs, etc.) The plasma sets are great for the representation of black. LCD blacks can't come close to plasma blacks. The 10000:1 contrast ratio of this set make the the whites of say a baseball uniform look really crisp and pop to your eye. CNET has this set rated at 6.9 out 10, anything 7.0 or higher is rated very good. Try to find anything this size, with this many features, rated this well for anywhere close to the price of this set. FYI, I have shined a flashlight into the back of this set. Guess who makes this TV...LG...so your not buying a no name :)
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Reviewed by: jccastillo81
Strengths: Relatively Cheap....
Weaknesses: Speakers are not Loud enough....for me though.
Overall: I Purchased this HDTV about 2 months ago. I was looking to go as BIG and CHEAP as possible for my 1st HDTV. So after researching a little bit I eneded up buying this HDTV. I made COST be the most important factor in my decision so this was the best quality, yet cheap, HDTV that I could afford. I'm pleased w/ the HDTV but when I make my next HDTV purchase I will pay a little more $$ or hold out until there is a HOT DEAL for an HDTV that has a BETTER Picture Quality allTogether than this particular one. I am relative picky when it comes to picture quality so I need to make another HDTV purchase soon. However for the AVERAGE person who isnt picky, I believe that this HDTV is just Perfect for them..CAUTION: I noticed that the speakers DO NOT get really loud so you might want to invest on a 2.1 or 5.1 speaker system. I already had a 5.1 speaker system, this makes the HDTV WAY BETTER!!!! well thats all I have to say...good luck..
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Reviewed by: QQLUCK
Strengths: Great picture
Weaknesses: average remote
Overall: This tv is awesome. I like it, my family like it, my friends like it. and it is much cheaper than the other Japan brands. This is the best money spend to us.
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Reviewed by: horiba
Strengths: The price is good. Picture quality is decent. Comes in with the Pedestal stand.
Weaknesses: Build in speaker is terrible.
Overall: Overall, I am very happy with this value priced TV. The picture quality is outstanding with my DVD movies. The standard definition from DirecTV was not as good, but at distance, still acceptable. HDTV source was amazing. I noticed some delays in the pixels for fast motions, but not sure whether it is caused by bad reception from my antenna or TV. The build-in speakers are really bad. There are surround and standard options for the sound, but neither is good. You have to hook up your own speaker for sure.
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Reviewed by: sreebang
Strengths: Picture is crisp and clear. Colors are accurate.
Weaknesses: Speakers are Awful. Remote is ok, no back light.
Overall: This is my First plasma TV and I am really impressed. I don't have a HD cable, but still regular TV looks great. DVD movies look great. It has Great contrast and PIP feature. You would need to connect to a better sound system like a Home Theatre to enjoy this TV.I feel that is a best bang for the Buck.
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