Customer Reviews

VIZIO SV422XVT 42-Inch Class XVT Series 240Hz sps LCD VIZIO Internet Apps HDTV

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I bought this TV at Costco for $849.00. Easy to set up out of the box and easy to connect to my network. The picture is clear even though I have yet to watch HD. The Internet Apps provide instant information and still allow you to continue watching TV. Your network will automatically update the television and new apps when available. The apps act like a carousel at the bottom of the screen with the push of a button. You can even bookmark pages within apps to appear on your carousel (I have the weather for my city appear in the carousel). There are not a ton of Apps at this time...more to come. I have read that it will be an open source application...allowing people to develop their own apps, much like the IPhone.
The remote is bluetooth and has a full qwerty keyboard. The remote is universal and can sync with bluetooth devices and those with an infrared signal. The qwerty keyboard feels rubbery, but does the trick. There is even a spot on the keyboard that looks like a gamepad for future gaming apps.
You will need a High Speed internet connection in order to view streaming content on the TV. There are several different apps at this time that provide different services for streaming video, and they are all easy to access.
The requirements to stream.
SD: 1 Mbps
720p: 2.25 Mbps
1080p: 4.5 Mbps
For the price, you will not find a comparable TV with this many options. With this TV's instant access to information, great picture quality, and bluetooth remote; this TV is the best Bang for your Buck.

Update (06/01/10):
I began having issues with the TV turning off and restarting randomly. I could force the TV to restart itself by exiting out of the Netflix App. I called Vizio Customer service and they sent someone out the same week to fix the issue. Vizio had the repairman replace both boards on the unit. So far, so good. I was concerned when the issue occured largely because of the bad reports I have read on Vizio's customer service. I on the other hand was impressed with the customer service of Vizio. They tried to troubleshoot the problem and corrected the problem quickly. They basically replaced everything on the TV except the screen.
I will provide another update if this didn't solve the issue, but would still recommend the TV.

Update (11/05/10)
After the repairman repaired both boards, I continued having issues. Vizio replaced both boards again 1 month ago. I have not had any issue since. As long as I don't have any further issues, I will be happy with the purchase. The Netflix App is nice and I use the Yahoo Fantasy Football App quite a bit as well.

I bought this tv a couple of weeks ago on QVC for $849 and paid an additional $65 for shipping. QVC was a great option as it allowed me to pay for the set over 5 months with no interest. It was so popular that it sold out during its first airing and hasn't been featured again. I've also noticed that most stores do not have this tv in stock. **Beware of other Vizios with similar model numbers. Vizio has another version (older model) of this tv without the built in wifi and apps that sells for $50 to $100 less. Its still a great tv but for such a small difference in price you should get the better tv.***

This tv is impressive. For one, it has a great picture out of the box. Second, the apps are amazing. Pandora, Facebook, Flickr, Weather, Netflix, etc. They are great. I knew I'd use Netflix and Pandora but I'm loving all of them. I doubt I'll update my FB status while in front of the tv but its nice to view photos on the big screen from a friend's profile. Amazon Video on Demand and Vudu work great and came with free rentals.

The set up was easy. The stand came attached to the tv so it was just a matter of pulling it out the box and plugging it in. The tv walks you through the necessary connections, remote set up, and connecting to the wireless network. The built in wifi is a must have feature for anyone looking for a tv with internet access as most people don't have a cable modem in the same room as their tv.

The remote works very well with my comcast cable box. With other tvs I've had to use both remotes because there were issues controlling volume or power but not with this remote. It fully operates the cable box. Its also a bluetooth remote so it will control the tv when you aren't pointing it at the tv. The slider function is nice too. When using the apps, you can type with the slider keyboard instead of picking letter by letter with an on screen keyboard. This is a great feature and saves a lot of time. Its a bit wider than your average slider phone so it takes some getting used to but its better than a wireless keyboard.

Also, the tv has 4 HDMI inputs so you can have dedicated inputs for your dvd player, gaming system, laptop, etc. There are also 3 USB inputs but they aren't yet functional. I've been told that Vizio will eventually release a firmware update so that these can be used.

I wish this tv were offered in LED like the 47" and 55" versions but that's just because I want the lastest and greatest. There is nothing wrong with this tv.

One downside that I've identified is that the volume adjuster for loud commercials doesn't really get the job done. I find myself reaching for the remote and muting commercials because they are still too loud. Another oddity is that the tv has a strong plastic smell out of the box. The smell is overpowering and is so strong I question whether its safe and not toxic. I've actually got a service appointment with Vizio next week about this. The tv works fine and the smell has lessened some but its still there. I initially thought it was the packaging but its clear that its part of the tv as it gets worse when the tv has been on for long periods of time.

Overall, I highly recommend this tv. I'm even considering one of the larger versions for my living room and moving this one to my bedroom.

Purchased this from Amazon on a preorder before it was released. It was definitely worth the wait! I set the TV up myself with the on screen step by step guide, even the wifi was very easy to setup, especially with the keypad on the remote! Great picture, even on an angle. Quite a few great apps with more to come. Very cool TV.

Bought this on Amazon for $900 a few months ago (thanks tax return!) with free shipping, awesome! It was delivered by a specialty delivery service 1 week later (3 weeks earlier than i was told in my confirmation, sweet). Before i begin my praise, I just want to mention that this is my first big flat screen TV, aside from my 24" Samsung T240HD LCD HDTV/monitor that has extraordinary picture quality and really lives up to the 'HDTV' description. But I'm also a tech junkie and aside from knowing a lot about consumer electronics to begin with, i did a good deal of research into LCD TV's prior to purchasing this tv.

When I was researching HDTV's I was drawn to Vizio b/c I had read on TechCrunch that several big name manufacturers were releasing their new 'high-end' tvs soon and they had wifi built in and would incorporate apps directly into the TV. When looking at the prices of those tvs, i was disappointed b/c they were way out of my budget so when i came across the Vizio SV422XVT, i got a little dizzy with excitement. At $950, it was the perfect tv for me since it had Wifi - N, a bluetooth keyboard remote, Netflix and Amazon Video on Demand apps and, of course, Vizio's reputation for high quality. I bought it the same day (after clearing it with the wife) for $950. The shipping was free but i quickly realized it was b/c i wasn't set to receive it for 4 weeks. Long time to wait but for the price and features, i was prepared. Like a little kid, i excitedly looked at the product page on Amazon everyday while awaiting the delivery date. And at least this one time acting like a kid saved me $50 when around 3 days after i placed my order, Amazon dropped the price to $900. I was pissed at first but quickly researched the return/cancellation policy and since my order hadn't moved past the initial order placement stage, i was able to cancel the first order and purchase it at the lower price which included the same free shipping and same 4 week wait. However, as i said before, it actually got delivered about a week later.

Once i set it up and plugged my cable box, PS3, junker surround system and PC into the HDMI ports and set up the wifi, i actually started watching TV. I was impressed with the HD channels and March Madness was really great to watch on this baby. I think the colors are accurate and very vivid so i'm thinking that a couple of the other reviews i read on here probably did have defective units. The internet apps are great, i use Amazon Video On Demand the most and netflix about a little. THe video and sound quality are great but my only complaint is that the internet can be... finicky... as in, Amazon shows/movies can buffer several times, netflix not as much but i don't use it as much but Pandora plays just fine. This could be my router's fault and most probably is but i still believe the wifi connectoin in the TV isn't 100% stable. Since 802.11 N is still in draft format, that could be why also...not sure.

On to the other features. MY PS3 had to step its game up when i first played Modern Warfare 2 on this TV but once it woke from its non-HDTV slumber, the quality was excellent and i would say playing on this TV has definitely improved my gaming skills. Blu-rays are really amazing too though i think some older blu-ray movies aren't formatted to play on this high of quality tv b/c the camera shots seem really strange some times. I attribute it to the refresh rate, 240hz. The refresh rate is really important and i can say with confidence that there were no other brands with 240HZ refresh rates at this price. Most are 120 but some are even 60 which just doesn't do HD justice IMO. Anyways, using my pc with this thing was really cool too. it is a giant monitor and having 42" of gmail is pretty cool. i only use that pc for casual searching, some Google Reader and occasionally watching movies i purchased (mistakenly) through iTunes last year. The video quality of the PC isn't quite as good as the PS3 but the PC is also older so I don't think its the Vizio's fault.

I'd also like to review the Bluetooth quality of the TV. First, the remote is amazing since it is both universal for other devices (uses IR) and Bluetooth for the TV itself. This means for things like using the internet apps and adjusting the volume (tv volume only on my setup)are controlled thru a Bluetooth connection which doesn't require you point it directly at the device. I have a cable box hooked up to it and the remote does work for that box but since it uses IR, i have to point it at the box still to change the channel. Oh well. The QWERTY Bluetooth keyboard is great for searching on amazon and even typing in username/password on any/all of the apps. It does not, however, connect to my PS3 as a Bluetooth keyboard :(. I knew that was just wishful thinking anyways. My last comment about the Bluetooth is the quality of the receiver inside the TV. I use Bluetooth headphones for my computer and phone and i recently realized i could use them with the TV as well. Once paired, i found i could use both headphones and tv speakers together or just the headphones. Also, the range on the Bluetooth is really good. i've been outside of the house (about 35 feet away thru 100+ year old brick walls) with no crackling or skipping of the audio at all. I'm guessing its an EDR Class 1 device (audio up to 300ft) but i haven't been able to locate the specs of the Bluetooth inside the TV yet. Please leave a comment if you know the specifics of the bluetooth chip inside the tv.

In summary, i don't recommend this TV to my friends b/c i really enjoy having the most high tech/best quality TV among them. BUT since you're an anonymous reader, i highly recommend you buy this TV. Literally the only thing it can't do is 3D, yet(firmware update maybe?). Other than that, this TV is the most features packed, highest quality TV you will find at this price for at least a year.

I had recently purchased a Consumer Reports Best Buy 42" Sanyo 60 hz LED HDTV for $600 before a buddy of mine told me about the 47" Vizio he bought with internet apps that allowed him to stream Netflix. I decided to try the 42" Vizio because anything larger is really too big for the room.

I picked up the 42" Vizio 240hz at Costco for $850. Setup was pretty easy, and I liked the QWERTY board on the controls. The internet apps worked perfectly, and I was able to stream Netflix right away.

However, I had 3 major problems with the Vizio:

1. The picture. The HD channels froze every few seconds. This was not simply motion lag or judder; it would freeze up more than it would play. I had not had any problems when I played them on the Sanyo. I had my cable company check the signal, and it was strong. Additionally, I noticed motion lag and judder on the non-HD channels even though they were fine on the Sanyo. The Vizio also had white lines that would flash occasionally; again, I had had no problems like this with the Sanyo, even though it was only 60hz. When it worked properly, the Vizio picture was no better than the Sanyo.

2. The sound. The SRS with volume control was also part of the reason I tried the Vizio, but it was a total bust. I still have an old Philips Magnavox CRT TV with Smart Sound that works perfectly at leveling out the sound between programs and commercials. The Vizio did not even out the sound at all. The commercials were still very loud, and, even worse, the sound on the programs would fade in and out. I was constantly having to adjust the volume. The sound from the Sanyo was better.

3. The controls. The functions I use frequently, like changing the picture shape, changing the picture view (i.e., movie, sports, games, etc.), and close captioning, were directly on the Sanyo remote. With the Vizio, you have to go through several menu screens to make these changes, and that gets pretty annoying after a while, especially when it was so easy with the Sanyo.

The internet apps were cool, but a TV has to have a good picture and good sound, and this Vizio had neither.

I returned the Vizio to Costco, and they took it back with no problem. The tech guy thought there might be a problem with the digital tuner that was causing the HD channels to freeze. Regardless, I think the Sanyo is a better overall HDTV. I don't miss the internet apps too much because we have a Wii and can access the internet and stream Netflix through it.

So happy I purchased this new Vizio with Internet Apps. It was delivered with White Glove service at no extra cost and the delivery guys were extremely helpful in making sure everything was up and running before they left with all the packing materials and even carried my old heavy TV (140 lbs) down four flights of stairs. Easy set up and fast connection to Internet. I was watching a Netflix movie within 30 minutes of having the TV in my home! Excellent picture with extra crisp blacks and whites. Sound through the TV is terrific but I also have it set up with my home theater for Netflix movies and Pandora Internet music. Fun to use Facebook through the TV using the remote's keyboard. My only criticism is that the remote can be hard to read in a dark room since it is black and the keys are small-- so I wish it were illuminated. For the price this is one incredible TV that has the latest of technology: wifi, Internet, great apps such as Netflix, Pandora, facebook, the weather, etc.

THATS IT I HAVE TESTED THIS TV FOR VIZIO OVER THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS UNDER THIER VIP PROGRAM .I HAVE WATCHED IT GET BETTER EVERY WEEK AS THEY DOWNLOADED FIXES AND NEW APPS.EVERYBODY ENJOY.MY DAUGHTERS HAVE BOUGHT THIS TV BECAUSE OF MY TESTING.I SAY BUY IT YOU WONT BE SORRY IT WOULD TAKE ALL DAY TO TELL YOU WHAT I LIKE FROM BLURAY MOVIES,TO SUPERBOWL,TO VUDU JUST GET IT JCBENDER

Three issues lead me to give this model two thumbs down. Perhaps the issues I am experiencing are due to a defective sample.

I bought the previous model XVT421SV from Costco and was properly blown away by the picture quality. Skin tones, were spot on and the picture had an almost lifelike quality. I returned that TV as I wanted to "upgrade" to the SV422XVT, which essentially is the same TV as the XVT421SV, only with the internet apps added in. I bought the XVT422SV from Costco on the day it came on the floor. They were selling like hotcakes. The guy at Costco said they had received 12 that morning and when I picked mine up, there were two left.

1. I eagerly hooked up up and set up the picture to the settings that had produced such a gorgeous picture on my previous TV. I was completely underwhelmed. Nothing I tried in the picture settings would bring forth the beautiful images I had experienced. Skin tones are far from accurate and look completely fake and plasticky. On the XVT421SV skin tones were lifelike. I have not been able to replicate the same pictures despite extensive tweaking. No, I have not had the set calibrated.

2. In addition, the PIP/POP feature which I needed and which is why I bought the original Vizio in the first place, is now diminished in functionality. One can only view the HDMI inputs on the PIP/POP window. I have the PC input connected to my surveillance system, so that I can keep an eye on my place and on the XVT241SV, this worked beautifully as any two inputs could be used for the PIP/POP feature. On the new and "improved" SV422XVT, one of the two inputs HAS TO BE an HDMI input.

3. Another problem is that for some reason I cannot get my changes to the picture settings to "stick". I leave the pre-defined modes such as Standard, Movie, Golf, Baseball and the like alone, and make changes to the "Custom" mode. Once I have it set, I have found that simple things such as changing channels or turning the TV off and turning it on, or using the Netflix app will cause the Custom settings to reset to the factory default.

Yes, changing channels will reset the settings, at least on my TV.

The very high expectations I had for this TV have not been met. The internet apps are good, but the core attributes of the original XVT421SV that I loved (great picture and sound) have not been carried over in this model. A total disappointment. The internet apps are just so much sizzle. The steak unfortunately, is missing with this model, at least for my TV. One star for the internet apps, and zero for the TV.

I will be returning this TV for another of the same when Costco has more in stock and hopefully will be able to update with good news.


ps: FWIW I had hoped that a firmware update would cure at least the 3rd issue above. Alas, though the firmware was updated, the issue remains.

This TV is simply the best buy PERIOD!! I have seen SEVERAL TV's that are priced much higher, but do not compare to this TV. It is amazing! The picture is STUNNING, fast, clear. Even Standard Def channels look more like HD than HD channels did on our 3 year old Pioneer HD TV. Sound is crisp and sharp, power use is LOW. We live offgrid in an unorganized township and use Solar power, this TV fits the bill. Just simply stunning! You cannot go wrong with this TV!

Only downside was amazon. I preordered it for them, the order never shipped on time. 2 days later I cancelled my order and bought it for the same price from Dell.

If I had posted a review right after I purchased this product in March 2010, I would have given it a glowing review. About 6 weeks ago the TV started turning itself off while I was using it. I don't have any sleep timer set, it just shuts off. I initially thought I had hit the remote a couple of times and shut it off by accident but when it shut off when the remote was not near me or when I was out of the room, I got concerned. I went online and saw that MANY owners have had this problem with Vizio televisions, so I called Vizio. They had me forward them my proof of purchase and I am waiting for them to call me back to schedule a technician to come out to make repairs. During my conversation with the Vizio rep, he suggested that I purchase an extended warranty ($74. for an additional year or $269. for 4 years, they also sell 2 and 3 year plans). I am mortified that something I purchased from Amazon.com on 03/22/2010 for $949.00 is in need of repair less than 8 months later. I believe that a television that retails for more than $900.00 is a durable item and should last a minimum of 5 years before needing repairs. In addition to contemplating the possibility of having to spend up to $270.00 more for this television, I was told that when the service appointment is made I will have to be at home waiting (possibly for a 4 hour window) for the technician. I am not pleased with this purchase (I did purchase a Vizio soundbar which appears to be working as intended) so I will not purchase anymore of their products. I hope another potential purchaser finds this information useful.