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Technical Details
- Brand Name: Vizio
- Model: XVT3D424SV
- Display Technology: LED-lit
- Display Size: 42 inches
- Image Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Product Details
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Product Description
Amazon.com
Internet-Ready Television
Internet-ready TVs use your broadband connection to deliver dynamic content, whether it's streaming video from Netflix, new music from Pandora, or a quick glance at today's weather forecast.
Although there is overlap, each manufacturer offers a unique bundle of free or paid services, including streaming video and music, social networking apps, online photo galleries, news and financial updates, weather info, sports scores, and a variety of other smartphone-like applications.
Manufacturers continue to add new content to their offerings, keeping customers current through firmware updates, and making a bit of research a prudent step in your buying decision.
Learn more about Internet TVs, how they work, what services are offered by different manufacturers, and exactly what you'll need to get started at our Internet TV 101 customer center.
3D Technology Checklist
This product is 3D-related. To help you get a great 3D experience, use the checklist below to ensure you have everything you need. 3D viewing requires:
 | A Display First, you'll need a 3D-ready display--whether it's a 3D HDTV, 3D projector, or 3D computer monitor. These displays have more processing power than standard 2D models for displaying 3D images in rapid succession. |
 | A Source Your display may be ready for 3D playback, but you'll still need a device to read 3D content. This can be a cable box with a subscription to a 3D channel, a 3D Blu-ray Disc player, or a PlayStation 3 system. |
 | 3D Content 3D content--the actual entertainment, in other words--will be played back using the source mentioned above, whether it's a 3D broadcast from your cable provider, a 3D Blu-ray Disc, or a 3D video game. |
 | 3D Glasses For now, the vast majority of 3D HDTVs require glasses for 3D viewing. Many use powered "active shutter" glasses, others polarized "passive" glasses. You'll need one pair per viewer, and they'll have to be compatible with your display, whether they're the same brand, or a pair of "universal" glasses designed to work across brands. |
 | HDMI Cable To connect your source (such as a 3D Blu-ray Disc player) to your display, you'll need a high-speed HDMI cable. Cables with this designation feature bandwidth speeds up to 10.2 Gbps (gigabits per second), for carrying the 3D signal without any loss of quality. |
If you want to get more information about 3D, shop our 3D products, watch videos, or interact with other customers, we invite you to visit 3D 101, our customer center about everything 3D. | |
March 2011
VIZIO's 42-inch XVT3D424SV brings cutting-edge, high-definition 3D technology to your home in a sleek, stylish display. Immerse yourself in 3D entertainment, and enjoy serious picture quality, virtual surround sound, and wireless Internet connectivity right out of the box.
Cutting-edge, high-definition, superior 3D technology.
Click here for a larger image
Click here for a larger image
Enjoy vibrant colors and deep blacks with VIZIO's edge-lit Razor LED backlighting and 128 zone Smart Dimming technology, a 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, and 480Hz Smooth Motion processing for sharper, blur-free images.
The built-in WiFi receiver provides wireless connectivity to access movies and TV shows, music, photos and social networking sites. Stream movies and TV shows from Netflix and Amazon, listen to music via Rhapsody, display your personal photos from Flickr and update your Facebook and Twitter feeds. VIZIO Internet Apps also delivers the latest news, sports and weather through Yahoo. The universal Bluetooth remote's full QWERTY keypad makes input simple.
3D
Bring home the excitement! Immerse yourself with High-Definition 3D by VIZIO. Using the latest technologies for the optimal 3D experience, VIZIO 3D ensures your movies, sports, games and more come to life like never before. Add a pair of VIZIO active shutter 3D glasses and a Blu-ray 3D player and be a part of the action.
VIA (VIZIO Internet Apps)
Easily connect to the Internet and stream movies and TV shows, listen to music and get the latest news, sports and weather. The latest VIZIO Internet Apps (VIA) platform delivers a large array of web-based content directly to your living room, without the need for a PC or set-top box. Enjoy streaming video from Amazon Instant Video, Netflix, and VUDU; social networking from Facebook and Twitter; a variety of music from Rhapsody and Pandora; and a wealth of other content at the touch of a button.
Add some VIZIO 3D glasses and immerse yourself with High-Definition 3D.
Stream movies and TV shows, listen to music and get the latest news, sports and weather with VIZIO Internet Apps.
Bluetooth Universal Remote Control
This customized Bluetooth remote with slide out QWERTY keypad enables you to control your TV, even type onscreen, from any spot in the room.
Smart Dimming
Smart Dimming intelligently controls each block of LEDs, turning them on and completely off achieving richer, darker blacks with better uniformity and brighter, bolder colors.
480HZ SPS
480Hz SPS Smooth Motion technology delivers 480 scenes per second producing enhanced frame rate and delivering sharper clarity of fast action scenes, for blur free images.
SRS TruVolume
SRS TruVolume eliminates volume inconsistencies between programming. Ever get annoyed when a ridiculously loud commercial comes on? TruVolume cuts the audio signal at high amplitude and then boosting it at low amplitude--no matter where in the frequency range the loudness spike occurs.
ECO HD
ECO HD exceeds the current ENERGY STAR Guidelines, saving you money on your utility bills while limiting the impact on our planet.
Customized Bluetooth remote with slide out QWERTY keypad.
Enhanced frame rate for sharper clarity of fast action scenes for blur free images.
Wi-Fi Technology
The latest 802.11N Dual Band Wireless Networking is built-in making connecting to the Internet quick and easy. If you prefer a wired connection, which will provide the best online experience, a standard Ethernet port is also included.
Razor LED
Behind the XVT3D424SV's edge-to-edge cover glass you'll find a 1080p screen backlit by LEDs. That means it uses less energy than traditional CCFL-baklit LCD displays, and delivers more detail, with a 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and 220 nits brightness. Plus, it allows for an ultra-thin display, making it ideal for any room.
Dynamic Contrast Ratio
1,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio delivers deeper blacks and brighter whites through contrast and dimensions.
1080P Full HD
Full 1080P High Definition resolution gives you over 2 million pixels, making the clarity and detail of your picture razor sharp.
TruSurround HD
SRS TruSurround HD delivers immersive virtual high-definition surround sound.
Mercury Free
The display's backlight is due to the fact that LED backlights do not utilize mercury, an environmentally harmful substance.
XVT3D424SV Select Specifications
| General | |
|---|---|
| Display Size (Diagonal): | 42" |
| Resolution: | 1080p (1080p, 1080i, 720P, 480P, 480i compatible) |
| Dynamic Contrast Ratio: | 1,000,000 : 1 |
| Refresh Rate: | 480Hz |
| Brightness: | 450 nits |
| Response Time: | 4 ms |
| Channels/Speaker Output: | 2 x 15W |
| Ethernet: | 1 - 10/100 Mb/s |
| Wireless (WiFi): | 802.11n Dual Band, 2.4GHz and 5GHz |
| Input/Outputs | |
| HDMI with HDCP: | 4 rear, 1 side |
| Component Video (YCrCB): | 1 rear |
| Composite Video: | 1 rear |
| VGA: | 1 rear |
| RF Connector for Internal Tuner: | 1 rear |
| Ethernet: | 1 rear |
| USB 2.0: | 3 side |
| Optical Digital Out (SPDIF): | 1 |
| Analog Audio Out: | 1 |
| Weight | |
| With Stand: | 41.45 lbs. |
| Without Stand: | 38.36 lbs. |
| Dimensions | |
| With Stand: | 40.15"W x 27.91"H x 9.05"D |
| Without Stand: | 40.15"W x 25.83"H x 1.90"D |
What's in the Box
VIZIO XVT3D424SV With Stand, Bluetooth Remote Control With Batteries, Power Cord, Cleaning Cloth, Safety Cable, User Guide and Quick Start Guide, User Manual, Quick Setup Guide, Registration Card
VIZIO 2011 XVT Series Comparison
| Series | XVT3D-0SV | XVT3D-4SV | XVT-3SV |
| Display Sizes | |||
| Panel Type | Edge-Lit LED | Full Array LED (47", 55") Edge-Lit LED (42") | LED with Smart Dimming |
| 3D Ready | Theater 3D | Full HD 3D | Full HD 3D |
| Resolution | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p |
| Contrast Ratio | 1,000,000:1 | 10,000,000:1 (47", 55") 1,000,000:1 (42") | 1,000,000:1 (32", 37") 10,000,000:1 (47", 55") |
| Response Time: | 5 ms | 4 ms | 5 ms |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 480Hz | 120Hz (32", 37") 240Hz (47", 55") |
| Light Sensor |  | | -- |
| VIZIO Internet Apps | | | |
| Wireless LAN | 802.11n Dual Band | 802.11n Dual Band | 802.11n Dual Band |
| Ethernet | | | |
| HDMI Inputs | 5 | 5 | 4 (32", 37") 5 (47", 55") |
| PC Input | | | |
| USB 2.0 Ports | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| USB Supported Formats | † | † | † |
† MP3, JPEG, MPEG may be available via future firmware update.
From the Manufacturer
The VIZIO Edge Lit Razor LED LCD 3D HDTV with VIZIO Internet Apps brings cutting-edge, high-definition 3D technology to your home in sleek VIZIO style. Immerse yourself in a mind-blowing 3D environment with VIZIO Full HD 3D and SRS TruSurround HD audio. Edge Lit Razor LED backlighting with Smart Dimming (16 zones), a 1 million to 1 dynamic contrast ratio, and 480 Hz SPS Smooth Motion processing ensures the best picture quality possible. Intelligently delivering vivid color and deep blacks. Built-in dual-band 802.11n WiFi brings you more high-definition, on-demand content straight from the Internet to your home. With VIZIO Internet Apps, you can check the news, weather, and your friends Facebook and Twitter feeds. Update your own status using the included Bluetooth remote with full slide-out keypad!
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
41 of 44 people found the following review helpful
By PPK
I've purchased a number of HD sets for myself and for friends over the last few years. When my Samsung 46" DLP bit the dust (CPU) a few weeks ago, I wanted to replace it with Samsung 46" LED 3D set, but could not fit it into my wall unit or into my budget. I came across the Vizio sets in Costco and bought this set the day they were unpacked onto the shelves. The 42" fits perfectly into the 42" wall unit. The fact that it had speakers on the front of the unit and most plasma and other flat screens I looked at did not, also was a big plus given my space was a 3 foot deep box meant for a traditional TV. I actually returned a Panasonic and LG set of the same size for that reason.
The extra $500 for this set was well worth it for the additional features that I use today and will use in the future. I bought it for the 480hz refresh rate and the built in WiFi and Bluetooth radios as well as the compatability with my wireless N router. It streams HD Video almost instantly with no buffer pauses at all. The universal remote/keyboard with bluetooth connectiviity is also a big plus. Setup was a breeze. My only complaint was having to spend an hour or so adjusting the picture settings to get the color and brightness just where I wanted it. Sound quality is good, but hooking the Digital Optical cable to your stereo makes for a very high quality experience. The Internet Apps are great. I hooked up my Amazon, Pandora, Netflix and Facebook accounts in a matter of minutes and I'm really impressed with how it handles them.
My only real complaint is the lack of ACtive Shutter 3D glasses. The Real 3D ones you get in theaters do not work on any 3D broadcasts from DirecTV and I"m not about to spend an additional $200 for the Active Shutter ones to play with that technology. In a year, when it's more prevalent, I know I'll have a BluRay player with 3D titles and I also know Vizio supports all known 3D standards out there right now.
A great set that keeps getting better with each day of exploration.
The extra $500 for this set was well worth it for the additional features that I use today and will use in the future. I bought it for the 480hz refresh rate and the built in WiFi and Bluetooth radios as well as the compatability with my wireless N router. It streams HD Video almost instantly with no buffer pauses at all. The universal remote/keyboard with bluetooth connectiviity is also a big plus. Setup was a breeze. My only complaint was having to spend an hour or so adjusting the picture settings to get the color and brightness just where I wanted it. Sound quality is good, but hooking the Digital Optical cable to your stereo makes for a very high quality experience. The Internet Apps are great. I hooked up my Amazon, Pandora, Netflix and Facebook accounts in a matter of minutes and I'm really impressed with how it handles them.
My only real complaint is the lack of ACtive Shutter 3D glasses. The Real 3D ones you get in theaters do not work on any 3D broadcasts from DirecTV and I"m not about to spend an additional $200 for the Active Shutter ones to play with that technology. In a year, when it's more prevalent, I know I'll have a BluRay player with 3D titles and I also know Vizio supports all known 3D standards out there right now.
A great set that keeps getting better with each day of exploration.
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By JasonC
First off let me say I have been looking at 3D tv's for a long time work with computers everyday and have an extensive knowledge on the technical aspects of any piece of hardware. This TV is truely bang for your buck. The refresh rate being at 480 pretty much future proofs your set and you can rest assure any format updates for hdmi or 3D technology will be able to be provided via firmware to the set. I love gaming and if you are a gamer like me that wants to expierence an awesome no ghosting picture on xbox 360, pc or ps3... I have sent this tv to the ringer and it has come out like Tyson in his prime. 3D will be availiable to this set through vudu which is full 1080p@24hz similar to current bluray players. All other formats are supported (like the ones you get from cable or streaming over youtube or downloaded videos and soon to be netflix.... these are usually called SBS or side by side, this set also supports over and under which is just another format of SBS all these formats are used in games or cable programs and the set performs top notch here keeping the resolution in HD range due to active technology.)
To sum it up this set is at the top of the 3D market for a few reasons.
1) Active technology running on 1080p@24hz as of now is the only tech that give you a full 1080p HD picture with no loss where passive interleves the picture cutting the resolution in half and this is a no go for most gamers.
2) Active SBS technology takes that same 1080p signal and splits the images into two angles then recombines them to give you still an HD signal but closer to 720p than 1080p but has become the standard for most cable providers, netflix, youtube ect. due to the bandwith it saves. If your set is SBS passive then i feel bad for you cause you have 2 forms of loss happening now the first splitting that 1080p signal into two images then the interleaving for 3D effect..... giving you close to a 540i signal.
3) LED TV!!!! And not only led but full array led. This means your blacks are darker and your colors are more defined crisp and sharp. There are litterally red green and blue leds in your set that can now illuminate to help the color portfolio of each pixel on your screen. Top of the line in LCD technology.
3)PC 3d gaming can be done either by nvidia's solution or ATI HD3D and iz3d drivers. Nividia's setup is a bit simpler but performance is lacking and usually you have to scale the graphics down for the framerate to pick up. I've recently updated my video card to the ati HD 5670 and could not be happier. First off you will want to get the iz3d driver and make sure you chose the full install of the release canidate. Purchase the AMD 3DHD license which is half off. Make sure your LCD is connected via HDMI and in the catalist control panel select the 1080p@24hz resolution and scale it to 0 overscan. Enable the iz3d driver and you will be well on your way. Any other refresh rate will work great on the tv under normal circumstances but it needs to be running at 24hz to use the amd HD3D features.
To sum it up this set is at the top of the 3D market for a few reasons.
1) Active technology running on 1080p@24hz as of now is the only tech that give you a full 1080p HD picture with no loss where passive interleves the picture cutting the resolution in half and this is a no go for most gamers.
2) Active SBS technology takes that same 1080p signal and splits the images into two angles then recombines them to give you still an HD signal but closer to 720p than 1080p but has become the standard for most cable providers, netflix, youtube ect. due to the bandwith it saves. If your set is SBS passive then i feel bad for you cause you have 2 forms of loss happening now the first splitting that 1080p signal into two images then the interleaving for 3D effect..... giving you close to a 540i signal.
3) LED TV!!!! And not only led but full array led. This means your blacks are darker and your colors are more defined crisp and sharp. There are litterally red green and blue leds in your set that can now illuminate to help the color portfolio of each pixel on your screen. Top of the line in LCD technology.
3)PC 3d gaming can be done either by nvidia's solution or ATI HD3D and iz3d drivers. Nividia's setup is a bit simpler but performance is lacking and usually you have to scale the graphics down for the framerate to pick up. I've recently updated my video card to the ati HD 5670 and could not be happier. First off you will want to get the iz3d driver and make sure you chose the full install of the release canidate. Purchase the AMD 3DHD license which is half off. Make sure your LCD is connected via HDMI and in the catalist control panel select the 1080p@24hz resolution and scale it to 0 overscan. Enable the iz3d driver and you will be well on your way. Any other refresh rate will work great on the tv under normal circumstances but it needs to be running at 24hz to use the amd HD3D features.
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
OK, well here goes. I've had this TV now for about 5 full days (got it right before Labor Day Weekend). Ordered it off Amazon and paid $3.99 for PRIME One-Day Shipping (This is NOT one of those TVs that Amazon has special delivered through a TV delivery service as it is super-thin and light [<50 lbs]).
EASE OF SETUP [9 out of 10]
Pretty easy TV to setup. I am using it primarily as a computer monitor, however the PC I have plugged into it has Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray 3D, and TV Tuner functionality, plus I'm playing a few PC Games on it, so I consume a pretty wide variety of content on this TV. The boxing was very well thought out. The boxing? What? Yeah I know its a weird thing to mention, but Vizio has a really neat box for all of their TV's (my Uncle bought a 55" Vizio last year with a similar box). Basically, you stand the box upright, remove four black tabs from the box, and then the entire box, with the exception of the base, just pulls right off. Then you can remove the styrofoam from the TV and you're good to go. No having to make it a 2-man job and having someone hold the cardboard box exterior while you tug a snug-fitting styrofoam shell out of the box. None of that crap.
Got the TV out of the box. I didn't wall mount so I can't speak to that. Installing the base was a sinch. Just slapped it on (it did take a wee bit more pressure than what I would have imagined) and used the provided thumbscrew to secure the base to the bottom of the TV. Then, I just propped it up on a table (I live in a college dorm, so no room for an entertainment center), plugged in the standard power cable, and was just about good to go. That's where I hit a little snag.
For some reason, I wanted to try it out by DIRECTLY plugging it into the cable first (my university uses a direct ClearQAM via Coax distribution system. No set-top boxes) instead of just plugging in my computer via HDMI and using my computer's TV Tuner. Vizio clearly intended to make the wall-mounted experience as seamless as possible and, as such, the ports (both HDMI and Coax) on the TV face DOWNWARDS (so that the cables can run PARALLEL to the TV, not stick out a few inches perpendicularly (which would be problematic for some wall mounters)). The only problem with that design is that the little indented area where you plug in the cable isn't very large and, as such, you have to use pretty flexible cables otherwise it'll be a PITA to plug them in. Well, the only coax cable I had sitting around was an old stiff one. Add to that that it was the style that you have to screw in, as opposed to just pushing in. I literally spent 15 minutes trying to screw in the coax cable but was unable to, as coax cables need to go on straight - an impossibility with a stiff cable and the small caveat where the cables are plugged in. So I decided to forgo the direct coax hookup and just use my computer's tv tuner via HDMI. I had a few non-rigid HDMI cables, and was able to get those setup without issue. I just want to warn that if you have very STIFF cables, you might run into some issues plugging them in the COAX and HDMI 1-4 ports.
Once I got the computer plugged in, I turned on the TV and was able to whiz through the basic setup. Most of the setup steps didn't apply, as they were meant for setting up cable boxes or direct COAX connections or the like. For me, it was pretty much just (1) turn the TV on, (2) switch to HDMI 1, (3) boot up the PC. Once I got the PC booted up, I noticed that there were ~1.5" borders around the visable computer screen area. I was able to remove these and blow up my desktop to the entire area of the visible TV by adjusting the Size and Position settings (Hit MENU, then TV SETTINGS, then PICTURE, then MORE, then SIZE AND POSITION). That was when I was running my ATI RADEON 5770 Graphics Card. Strangely enough, I upgraded my graphics card to an EVGA NVIDIA GTX 560TI later that day, and then I only saw a portion of my desktop on the screen. At first I thought that something was wrong with the graphics card. But then I remembered that the image on the ATI was underscanned and I had had to compensate in the TV Settings. Sure enough, I reset the Vertical and Horizontal Size and - voila! - the desktop was the perfect size again. I also tested my Apple TV and Xbox 360 on this TV and their pictures are perfectly fit to the TV on default settings. So, basically, only SOME older graphics cards will have the issue I explained, and it can be easily remedied.
Finally, I noticed the image seemed somewhat dark. Not unwatchable (at least by my standards), but bothersome. I remembered something I'd read about Vizio's Ambient Light Sensor, and went about finding where I could customize that particular setting. After I turned it off, the picture was damn-near perfect (To turn Ambient Light Sensor OFF, Hit MENU, then TV SETTINGS, then PICTURE, then MORE, then ADVANCED PICTURE, and finally hit ENTER once you get to AMBIENT LIGHT SENSOR and choose the OFF option). The brightness level seemed good (some may want to increase the Backlight and/or Brightness options just a smidge still; these can be found in the basic PICTURE settings; I ended up doing this myself). The image really needs no calibration after you turn off the AMBIENT LIGHT SENSOR IMHO.
PICTURE QUALITY (2-DIMENSIONAL) [10 out of 10]
The nice thing about this TV's brightness/color settings is their FLEXIBILITY. I was sitting on the couch with a couple of my roommates, and we each found a mix of color and brightness settings that we liked. My one roommate prefered it with more color, the other with less color, and I prefered it with a smidge more color and a bit more brightness. If you're super-picky or whatever, you will probably be able to find a mix of settings that you love - it might just take a while. But, this TV looks GREAT almost right out of the box. The LED backlighting really does make all the difference. I have an LCD TV/monitor (about 1.5 years old, 24", Samsung, pretty nice monitor when I got it) in the other room, and going back and forth between the two was like night and day. The LCD appeared overly dimmed, and its colors didn't POP. The LED backlighting, far from washing out the colors as one might expect (since LEDs lead to higher brightness levels), actually enhance colors, making them seem naturally vibrant. That's what I mean when I say that the colors POP. OK, enough about color and brightness --- let's talk about the elephant in the room - the 480 Hz Refresh Rate. Some insist that it's only "really" 240 Hz, but does it really matter? I mean, the difference between 240 Hz and 480 Hz is invisible to the human eye. Are you telling me that your eyes can tell the difference between frames flashed at it in 1/480th of a second (approximately 0.002 sec)??? Don't flatter yourself. However, the difference between the Vizio's advertised 480 Hz and the 60 Hz of a regular TV, and the 24 or 30 Hz of a standard film and TV broadcast respectively, is quite visible. Obviously, Vizio can't magically turn 24 Hz content into 480 Hz content. But it can attempt to smooth the motion by "guessing" at the frames in between. Noone can expect this to be perfect. Typical movies are filmed at 23.976/24 Hz. This TV has the ability to show content at 480 Hz. That means that between every two frames of Hollywood film, the Vizio has to "guess" at what NINETEEN other frames would come in between. And it has to do all this on the fly in a fraction of a second. But I must say, the Vizio handles the job very well. The question is not so much whether this "Smooth Motion Effect" WORKS, but moreso whether or not you like it. Me, I'm on the fence about it. For watching live action sports, or even playing games, I love it. For TV primetime dramas, it makes the picture look a little too real, I think. But I kinda like it in that application, depending on the TV show. For movies, I generally don't like it. There's something about the juddery-ness of film that adds to its genuinity, in my mind. Others may disagree. But the great thing is that, not only can you turn the "Smooth Motion Effect" on and off easily depending on your tastes, Vizio actually gives you a few options ("off", "low", "medium", and "high"). Last but not least, the picture has great color uniformity. Some may complain it isn't a FULL ARRAY LED screen, but I actually like the EDGE LIT LED screen, because EDGE LIT LEDs don't suffer from any image "blooming."
PICTURE QUALITY (3-DIMENSIONAL) [9.5 out of 10]
First thing you gotta know about 3-D is this: if the 3-D image comes out looking bad on this TV, its more than likely a problem with the CONTENT that you are using, not the TV. Certain 3-D video games, and even highly compressed or bad;y converted 3D movies WILL have ghosting. What's ghosting, you ask? Ghosting is basically when you see a faint extra copy of an image, kind of like a full-color shadow, while watching 3D. For certain applications, ghosting can be quite annoying if it occurs. For example, playing video games, especially shooters, where there is severe ghosting is tough - because it makes it hard to know if you are shooting the opponent or his "ghost" image. Watching movies with high level of detail can be tough too, as ghosting can have the effect of making the image appear blurry. The other thing about 3D --- a lot of 3D content cannot be shown at full HD resolutions or at full frame rates. For example, 3D video games have a max framerate of 24 fps because of limitations in the HDMI 1.4a standard (this might get fixed via firmware update later on). 24fps PER EYE is good for watching film and for most gamers, but a lot of hardcore gamers feel uncomfortable playing a video game below 35-40 fps. And regarding resolution. Read more ›
EASE OF SETUP [9 out of 10]
Pretty easy TV to setup. I am using it primarily as a computer monitor, however the PC I have plugged into it has Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray 3D, and TV Tuner functionality, plus I'm playing a few PC Games on it, so I consume a pretty wide variety of content on this TV. The boxing was very well thought out. The boxing? What? Yeah I know its a weird thing to mention, but Vizio has a really neat box for all of their TV's (my Uncle bought a 55" Vizio last year with a similar box). Basically, you stand the box upright, remove four black tabs from the box, and then the entire box, with the exception of the base, just pulls right off. Then you can remove the styrofoam from the TV and you're good to go. No having to make it a 2-man job and having someone hold the cardboard box exterior while you tug a snug-fitting styrofoam shell out of the box. None of that crap.
Got the TV out of the box. I didn't wall mount so I can't speak to that. Installing the base was a sinch. Just slapped it on (it did take a wee bit more pressure than what I would have imagined) and used the provided thumbscrew to secure the base to the bottom of the TV. Then, I just propped it up on a table (I live in a college dorm, so no room for an entertainment center), plugged in the standard power cable, and was just about good to go. That's where I hit a little snag.
For some reason, I wanted to try it out by DIRECTLY plugging it into the cable first (my university uses a direct ClearQAM via Coax distribution system. No set-top boxes) instead of just plugging in my computer via HDMI and using my computer's TV Tuner. Vizio clearly intended to make the wall-mounted experience as seamless as possible and, as such, the ports (both HDMI and Coax) on the TV face DOWNWARDS (so that the cables can run PARALLEL to the TV, not stick out a few inches perpendicularly (which would be problematic for some wall mounters)). The only problem with that design is that the little indented area where you plug in the cable isn't very large and, as such, you have to use pretty flexible cables otherwise it'll be a PITA to plug them in. Well, the only coax cable I had sitting around was an old stiff one. Add to that that it was the style that you have to screw in, as opposed to just pushing in. I literally spent 15 minutes trying to screw in the coax cable but was unable to, as coax cables need to go on straight - an impossibility with a stiff cable and the small caveat where the cables are plugged in. So I decided to forgo the direct coax hookup and just use my computer's tv tuner via HDMI. I had a few non-rigid HDMI cables, and was able to get those setup without issue. I just want to warn that if you have very STIFF cables, you might run into some issues plugging them in the COAX and HDMI 1-4 ports.
Once I got the computer plugged in, I turned on the TV and was able to whiz through the basic setup. Most of the setup steps didn't apply, as they were meant for setting up cable boxes or direct COAX connections or the like. For me, it was pretty much just (1) turn the TV on, (2) switch to HDMI 1, (3) boot up the PC. Once I got the PC booted up, I noticed that there were ~1.5" borders around the visable computer screen area. I was able to remove these and blow up my desktop to the entire area of the visible TV by adjusting the Size and Position settings (Hit MENU, then TV SETTINGS, then PICTURE, then MORE, then SIZE AND POSITION). That was when I was running my ATI RADEON 5770 Graphics Card. Strangely enough, I upgraded my graphics card to an EVGA NVIDIA GTX 560TI later that day, and then I only saw a portion of my desktop on the screen. At first I thought that something was wrong with the graphics card. But then I remembered that the image on the ATI was underscanned and I had had to compensate in the TV Settings. Sure enough, I reset the Vertical and Horizontal Size and - voila! - the desktop was the perfect size again. I also tested my Apple TV and Xbox 360 on this TV and their pictures are perfectly fit to the TV on default settings. So, basically, only SOME older graphics cards will have the issue I explained, and it can be easily remedied.
Finally, I noticed the image seemed somewhat dark. Not unwatchable (at least by my standards), but bothersome. I remembered something I'd read about Vizio's Ambient Light Sensor, and went about finding where I could customize that particular setting. After I turned it off, the picture was damn-near perfect (To turn Ambient Light Sensor OFF, Hit MENU, then TV SETTINGS, then PICTURE, then MORE, then ADVANCED PICTURE, and finally hit ENTER once you get to AMBIENT LIGHT SENSOR and choose the OFF option). The brightness level seemed good (some may want to increase the Backlight and/or Brightness options just a smidge still; these can be found in the basic PICTURE settings; I ended up doing this myself). The image really needs no calibration after you turn off the AMBIENT LIGHT SENSOR IMHO.
PICTURE QUALITY (2-DIMENSIONAL) [10 out of 10]
The nice thing about this TV's brightness/color settings is their FLEXIBILITY. I was sitting on the couch with a couple of my roommates, and we each found a mix of color and brightness settings that we liked. My one roommate prefered it with more color, the other with less color, and I prefered it with a smidge more color and a bit more brightness. If you're super-picky or whatever, you will probably be able to find a mix of settings that you love - it might just take a while. But, this TV looks GREAT almost right out of the box. The LED backlighting really does make all the difference. I have an LCD TV/monitor (about 1.5 years old, 24", Samsung, pretty nice monitor when I got it) in the other room, and going back and forth between the two was like night and day. The LCD appeared overly dimmed, and its colors didn't POP. The LED backlighting, far from washing out the colors as one might expect (since LEDs lead to higher brightness levels), actually enhance colors, making them seem naturally vibrant. That's what I mean when I say that the colors POP. OK, enough about color and brightness --- let's talk about the elephant in the room - the 480 Hz Refresh Rate. Some insist that it's only "really" 240 Hz, but does it really matter? I mean, the difference between 240 Hz and 480 Hz is invisible to the human eye. Are you telling me that your eyes can tell the difference between frames flashed at it in 1/480th of a second (approximately 0.002 sec)??? Don't flatter yourself. However, the difference between the Vizio's advertised 480 Hz and the 60 Hz of a regular TV, and the 24 or 30 Hz of a standard film and TV broadcast respectively, is quite visible. Obviously, Vizio can't magically turn 24 Hz content into 480 Hz content. But it can attempt to smooth the motion by "guessing" at the frames in between. Noone can expect this to be perfect. Typical movies are filmed at 23.976/24 Hz. This TV has the ability to show content at 480 Hz. That means that between every two frames of Hollywood film, the Vizio has to "guess" at what NINETEEN other frames would come in between. And it has to do all this on the fly in a fraction of a second. But I must say, the Vizio handles the job very well. The question is not so much whether this "Smooth Motion Effect" WORKS, but moreso whether or not you like it. Me, I'm on the fence about it. For watching live action sports, or even playing games, I love it. For TV primetime dramas, it makes the picture look a little too real, I think. But I kinda like it in that application, depending on the TV show. For movies, I generally don't like it. There's something about the juddery-ness of film that adds to its genuinity, in my mind. Others may disagree. But the great thing is that, not only can you turn the "Smooth Motion Effect" on and off easily depending on your tastes, Vizio actually gives you a few options ("off", "low", "medium", and "high"). Last but not least, the picture has great color uniformity. Some may complain it isn't a FULL ARRAY LED screen, but I actually like the EDGE LIT LED screen, because EDGE LIT LEDs don't suffer from any image "blooming."
PICTURE QUALITY (3-DIMENSIONAL) [9.5 out of 10]
First thing you gotta know about 3-D is this: if the 3-D image comes out looking bad on this TV, its more than likely a problem with the CONTENT that you are using, not the TV. Certain 3-D video games, and even highly compressed or bad;y converted 3D movies WILL have ghosting. What's ghosting, you ask? Ghosting is basically when you see a faint extra copy of an image, kind of like a full-color shadow, while watching 3D. For certain applications, ghosting can be quite annoying if it occurs. For example, playing video games, especially shooters, where there is severe ghosting is tough - because it makes it hard to know if you are shooting the opponent or his "ghost" image. Watching movies with high level of detail can be tough too, as ghosting can have the effect of making the image appear blurry. The other thing about 3D --- a lot of 3D content cannot be shown at full HD resolutions or at full frame rates. For example, 3D video games have a max framerate of 24 fps because of limitations in the HDMI 1.4a standard (this might get fixed via firmware update later on). 24fps PER EYE is good for watching film and for most gamers, but a lot of hardcore gamers feel uncomfortable playing a video game below 35-40 fps. And regarding resolution. Read more ›
Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
DO NOT BUY A VIZIO TV!!!
I bought a Vizio 42in 3D LED TV(XVT3D424SV) at Sams Club in Memphis. A little over a year, right after the warranty expired, I lost the picture on this TV. Read more
Published 3 months ago by don't buy Vizio
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
This is the same TV as the 47" that I wrote a review for. All of the positives hold for both models. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Gonnzo
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best TV for the value!
I have had the TV now for over 1 year and it still works and looks great! The picture quality seems just as good as the brands that charge you +1,000 $$, and it has been reliable... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Jordan Day
1.0 out of 5 stars
Very unhappy customer...first and last Vizio
My husband and I bought our first Vizio product, a 42" 3D LED flat screen a little over a year ago. Three weeks after the warranty ran out it would not turn on. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Meghan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very happy with my new tv!
I received this tv for Christmas, and I couldn't be happier with it. The picture is gorgeous. You can really see what it's capable of when playing a blu-ray disc - as good as, and... Read more
Published 4 months ago by C. Mosher
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great 3D set BUT w some faulty functionality...
I bought this set (42", 480Hz, 3D) about a year and a half ago from Costco soon after it came out for $999.00, 3D glasses an extra $150/pair. Read more
Published 5 months ago by G. Garcia
4.0 out of 5 stars
Review
Product was as described and advertise arrive on time or within the promise arrival time , totally satisfied with my purchase , Price was good
Published 6 months ago by Alex Perez
2.0 out of 5 stars
Worked great for 1 year, 1 month.
I bought a Vizio TV last September. From then until now, it was a great TV. It had enough inputs, it had a good "Game" mode, and the picture quality was excellent. Read more
Published 6 months ago by ryzic
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great Vizio Customer Service
I ordered this from Amazon Warehouse deals, and it arrived right on time. Plus.
I turned it on, and the screen is crystal clear and nicely bright. Plus. Read more
I turned it on, and the screen is crystal clear and nicely bright. Plus. Read more
Published 7 months ago by DT
5.0 out of 5 stars
vizio 42 3d
This T.V is amazing perfect for sports and xbox 360, My gf and I just finished watching A Nightmare Before Christmas in 3d and both were suprised on the picture quality.
Published 7 months ago by ian
