Customer Reviews

Vizio P50HDM 50-inch Plasma HDTV TV

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Bought this at Costco a week ago and I am very pleased with the purchase so far. For the money, you cannot get a better plasma. The picture is great and the widescreen viewing options are excellent. I really like the PIP options, which give alot of flexibility. You can jump back and forth for both video and audio with no problems.

As the other reviewer states, there is no tuner or cable card slot. I have a dish hookup and a lack of a tuner is not a problem for me. I would assume that anyone purchasing this would have either a dish or digital cable, so the tuner should be a non-issue for you.

This set has great inputs with two of every possible hookup (except RGB), but I was disappointed by the fact that the audio out is only engaged when the internal speakers are turned off. That forced me to run audio lines from the dish receiver to both the tv and receiver. This likely wont be a problem for the DVD because Im sure most purchasers will have the DVD hooked up to a receiver with a digital optical.

One down point is the remote. Not alot of options included here. You're most likely going to purchase a universal.

A quick note, this is a pretty heavy unit. I'm a big guy and had trouble moving it myself.

This is a great plasma TV. Its this inexpensive because it has no integrated tuner and no real sound system. But realistically, if you're purchasing a 50 inch television, you probably have your own sound system, and for the most part, all satellite and cable providers have their own HD tuners.

Setup is amazingly easy. There are a 7 different hookups in the back, two composite, two S-Video, two analog HD, two HDMI and an RGB for your computer monitor. The inputs are well labeled and easy to get to. The unit's remote control makes switching between them a snap. The TV's setup and configuration menus are very straightforward and easy to figure out, and certainly do not require any software or service technician to come and perform the initial setup (like many LCD or plasma units do or recommended you do). The TV has built-in ghost removal software that you can run as-needed to remove any faint temporary ghosting or help reduce any actual burn-in caused by static images. The manufacturer suggests that you do not watch something with a static image (like QVC, a video game with a static display element, or a movie with top or side black bars) for more than 15% of your total viewing week, and I've found that not to be an issue at all.

I only have one issue with the unit, and that has to do with hooking up your computer. The TV screen is a 1366x768 screen, but the manufacturer has set a 1024x768 limit and there are no supplemental drivers to overcome this. That leaves you with side bars when viewing and inaccessible real estate. Its really only a minor inconvenience.

I just bought this set (which is now the P50HDTV with the addition of a built in NTSC / DTV tuner - not necessary but fine) for under $1700 new at Sam's Club. Even without the HD satellite box (yet), I am very impressed. There are a bunch of competing models out there, and for the price this is aces. Yes, the Pioneer and the Panasonic are rated slighlty higher, but I wasn't looking to spend another grand or two either. And I'm glad I didn't!

The color, brightness and contrast are nothing short of magnificent. Of course it's set to "vivid" from the factory, but after that blew me out of the room with the lights down, I found out it has four presets that you can set for different moods - or manual on all settings. Honestly I don't know much about the difference between LCD and Plasma, but the picture blows away anything I've seen before.

Also, you can hook up just about anything to it. I was looking for something for the future, while still being compatible with what I have now. To that end it has 2 HDMI inputs, 2 component, 2 S-video or composite, a coax (which accepts anything that comes by coax, including rabbit ears if need be) and RGB (a standard computer monitor cable - note: 1024x768 is the max resolution on the RGB, but I've never seen that resolution look so good!) - basically I'm set for anything I can think of for quite a while. I have hooked Tivo up by component until the DirecTv HD comes in.

Oh, and the weight thing. It's 76 lbs as it sits there. Not a feather, but not as hefty as I was planning on either. My only problem is the same as everyone elses - getting used to the fact that it is only 4" deep!

I bought this at Costco after researching plasmas for a few weeks, both on the web and in the showroom. Price, before tax, was $1798. I could tell no difference in the showroom between this and plasmas costing $1000 more. Since the web reviews were generally positive, this persuaded me to take a chance on this "no name" brand (sold mainly at Costco and Sams, I believe).

I've been very happy with it. I was pasticularly happy to see the improved picture with standard definition sources such as non-HD satellite channels and DVD's. They look much better on the Vizio than on my old Magnavox 3-CRT rear projection set (which was no slouch for it's time).

The lack of a built in tuner is not a problem for me as the DirecTV HD box has a built-in terrestrial tuner for local HD stations that works quite well. (A separate antenna is, of course, required.)

I understand that the people who market the Vizio are the same group that produced the Princeton Graphics computer monitors--which were very highly rated. Lets hope the Vizio line will continue this tradition of excellence--I certainly have no misgivings so far.

I bought this HDTV during Thanksgiving long weekend at a very good price. I did buy the extended warranty on the unit but I think I will cancel it.

This unit works flawlessly. The picture, color and tone are all superb. There are 4 preset video modes for viewing and you can also customize the setting to your like. Audio speakers are great too and you don't really need to have an extra surrounding sound system.

I have compared this unit with the more expensive brands and models (of the same 720P rating) but my conclusion is that this model is better or no worse than those high-priced models. I am happy for this purchase.

KC

At it's price point, this HDTV has absolutely no competition. While competitors that are "highly rated" are selling for hundreds, if not a thousand dollars more, this Vizio delivers exceptional picture quality at an unbelievable value, and meets or exceeds the expectations of those competitors.

This is my second HDTV. Having first experienced an LCD at 1366x768, I can unquestionably say that plasma reigns supreme for deep blacks and vibrant whites, not to mention rich colors. This model has received praise from the professional A/V crowd via several articles in both consumer and industry periodicals, and continues to please those brave enough to venture beyond the "top tier" brand mentality.

My home theater has evolved over approximately three years and never has it been so immersive or engaging as when the Vizio P50HDTV10A was added. I view HD/SD satellite, Over The Air HD/SD, HD DVD, SD DVD, and XBox 360 games via the Vizio and all formats are very well received by this HDTV.

If you sit within 8'-14' (idealy 9'-10'), have a mixture of HD and SD sources, and do your viewing in a dimly to moderately lit room, the Vizio may just be the answer to your viewing question.

I purchased this because my other HD, a Phillips had taken its toll. TO be honest I wasn't that enthusiastic buying a brand I hadnt heard much about had Sams Club, If i had it my way I would have purchased the 62 DLP Hitachi from Bestbuy, but Little did I know...little did i know.

I have my progressive scan DvD player hooked up to it. The Picture is amazing, mixed in with my monster power station dampening out the static, monster cables. I am so happy with my purchase.

And last but not least my XboX 360, WOW. That is all I can say, Wonderful Overjoyous, and ...Wonderful!!! YAY!!!! It was so amazing! Gears of War looks amazing on it. As do the majority of the Xbox 360 system.

This TV is amazing for its price! Very user friendly, and gaming friendly!

My almost 2 yr old 50 in Vizio PDP died and the 5 yr warranty purchased form Vizio [Warranty Corporation of America] has not gotten a service person to call my home after 10 days. Vizio [where I bouoght the warranty] claim that it is not their responsibility and suggested I call Warranty Corporation of America, a 6th time. Do not buy Vizio. I paid over $3000 for the PDP and 5 year warranty.

This is a good plasma tv for the money. I wasn't that big on my husband buying an "off brand" plasma from Sams, but we were both pleasantly suprised.

We've had no big problems with it. It has a glitch where every once and a while when you turn the tv off and back on again right away, it freezes up. But, when you unplug it from the wall and back in again, it's fine

(which is easier said than done when it's hanging on the wall). Sometimes you get a pixelly/blocky quality on solid background colors(especially on home movies or when using it as a computer screen). My friends have the same tv and I've seen theirs do the same thing. HDTV looks great tho. All-in-all nothing to complain about. Better than spending another grand or two for a name-brand tv.

I own two other HDTVs from Panasonic and Polaroid and the Vizio is as good and better priced.

Picture quality is great and sound is good. The only thing I don't care for is the source input which requires you to cycle through all the inputs (TV, HDTV, comp1, comp2, HDMI, etc) to get to the one you want. A drop down menu would be nicer.

The TV is also a little thicker and heavier than the 50" panasonic, but not enough to be a drawback.