Zenith C32V37 32-Inch HDTV Integrated TV

by Zenith

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 27.2 x 41.2 x 30.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 182 pounds
• Shipping: This item can only be shipped to the 48 contiguous states. We regret it cannot be shipped to APO/FPO, Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico.
• ASIN: B0000E6MA4
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #269,734 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Set yourself up for full 1080i high-definition glory with one piece: Zenith's 32-inch, high-definition C32V37, which offers a flat, fine-pitch, dark-contrast picture tube with an Invar mask and a host of other audio and video enhancements. The set's fully integrated ATSC tuner receives off-air high-definition broadcasts (in 480p and 1080i resolution)--without the need for an external set-top box.

A built-in digital cable tuner (QAM) receives unscrambled digital cable signals, while a dedicated DVI input grants an optimal (and copy-protected) pure digital connection with an external high-definition device such as a stand-alone receiver (not required). The set's advanced 8-VSB chipset technology offers better indoor reception of DTV broadcasts than earlier receivers and also enables reception of broadcast programming data.

A shadow mask is a thin sheet of perforated metal behind the screen that restricts electron flow, each hole in the sheet corresponding to a single pixel. An Invar mask uses an alloy that's especially resistant to the high temperatures generated by the electron beam, allowing in a brighter, clearer picture.

The C32V37 performs 3:2 pulldown detection, a handy feature for watching progressive-scan movie programs in their native 24-frame format. Digital video mastering introduces a common distortion when adjusting 24 frames-per-second movies to 30 fps video; 3:2 pulldown digitally corrects this distortion, removing the redundant information to display a film-frame-accurate picture.

Special 16:9/4:3 aspect-ratio correction lets you view feature-length movies in either their original widescreen format (16:9) or in regular TV format (4:3), with no loss of resolution--the set devotes all available lines to the letterboxed image, wasting none on the black bars above and below. Even more fun, the set's dual tuners let you view two channels at the same time, without the need for an extra external source such as a VCR. Split screen (unlike PIP, which has a smaller inset) shows two channels of equal size, side-by-side.

A 3D Y/C comb filter combines the adaptive digital processing of a three-line digital comb filter with 3-D motion detection. This eliminates hanging dots and color noise on stationary images, as well as reducing "dot crawl" and overall picture noise. Scan velocity modulation dynamically varies the scanning speed of the electron beam to create clear, well defined images for the sharpest picture possible. Finally, Zenith's Dynamic Focus aligns the red, green, and blue color beams in the center of the screen to ensure accurate side-to-side focus.

Inputs include the above-mentioned DVI digital in, three S-video/composite-video sources (including stereo audio for each), and two high-definition component-video inputs. A set of convenient front-panel inputs (with S-video) fosters easy hookups with a camcorder or gaming console, and a set of composite-video/stereo analog-audio outputs lets you route a signal to a VCR, DVR, or surround receiver.

And speaking of surround sound, the C32V37 offers that, too--in the form of an optical digital-audio output to route an immersive, 5.1-channel Dolby Digital surround signal to a compatible AV receiver and speaker system. If you're set up for good old two-channel stereo for the time being, you'll appreciate the set's SRS TruSurround processing, which simulates a surround effect from any two speakers.

Product Description

With its integrated ATSC, Digital Cable Tuner (QAM Unscrambled) and 1080i resolution capability, this TV is ready to watch right out of the box - no HD set-top box is needed! It receives off-air high definition broadcasts and digital cable signals that are not scrambled. Itt does this using its advanced 8-VSB chipset technology. The high quality 32" flat screen features HD, fine pitch picture tube with 3:2 Pull Down Cinema Correction, a 3D Y/C Comb Filter, and 2 Tuner Picture in Picture with Split screen. Comes with a full complement of jacks, including DVI with HDCP, 2 sets of Component inputs, 3 S-Video and 3 A/V Inputs (2 on rear, 1 in front), Dolby Digital Optical Output, and two RF Inputs (ATSC/NTSC).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Our first HDTV - and we like it!, January 17, 2004

By 

D. Glass "engineer and inventor" (Knoxville, TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Zenith C32V37 32-Inch HDTV Integrated TV (Electronics)

I had been shopping for a new TV to replace our 10-year-old 27", and wanted to go with flat-screen, direct view, 16:9 switchable capability. HDTV is available by broadcast in our medium-market area on two stations so far; digital on 4 others. Of several 32-36" sets we looked at, the Zenith C32V37 was the only one found under $1000 with the HD receiver built in. No $400 add-on receiver needed!
After 2 weeks with it, we are very happy with the choice. We receive the HD signal with a small, amplified disc antenna (the stations are either already in the UHF band, or were translated to UHF), and the HD picture (broadcast at 720p by CBS and 1080i, I believe, by ABC) is all it's promoted to be. The TV is now integrated with an inexpensive, progressive-scan DVD player, and with a regular 2-channel sound system. They play together very well. DVDs have a great look in all aspect ratios, and the details are amazing - very crisp. Zenith touts the feature that the black borders above and below a 16:9 picture don't have any scan lines wasted on them, and that is not an insignificant thing: the full vertical resolution is packed into the viewing area.
The picture quality from DirecTV (not digital) is excellent - 'way better than any analog picture I've ever seen. The NFL playoff games on CBS last weekend convinced me that HD will be the real deal, as soon as the broadcasters can concentrate on the wide ratio without the need to compromise on picture composition for analog sets. And your camcorder and digital camera's pictures have never looked better.
The TV was easy to set up, its weight notwithstanding. Lots of wires (we're using S-video cable for all those peripherals); but the access points, including full AV ports under the front panel cover, are well labeled. The user has complete control of all set functions, including automatic and manual screen aspect ratio control, full audio options, inputs, channel scanning, surfing -- on and on. The remote is above the capacity of my wife, but she's catching on. So many features are available by remote, that it's a bit overwhelming.
Any downgrades I would give are only small observations: (1) the need to rather slowly scroll through all the input options when switching between over-the-air digital and HD channels and the DirecTV input; (2) the complexity of the remote -- some learning curve is necessary, though; and (3) small variation in picture settings among the various inputs.
Overall, a very good choice for value, picture quality, and functionality. A satisfying upgrade, and that's exactly what I set out for in the first place.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars There seems to be a problem with component video, January 31, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Zenith C32V37 32-Inch HDTV Integrated TV (Electronics)

First let me say that I really wanted to like this TV, and there are a lot of things that I do like about it very much, but today I'm returning it to the local store where I bought it.
Mine has some serious problems- I believe it's the power supply- that cause it to overheat after it has been on for 4-5 hours. At that point I begin to hear a sparking sound inside and the picture blinks briefly. At first this happens only once every few minutes, but the longer you watch the more frequent this becomes until finally it is occuring every 2-3 seconds and becoming extremely annoying. By this time the remote control no longer functions, in fact none of the buttons on the front of the set work either, including the power button. I have to unplug it to turn it off- that is if it doesn't shut itself off first.
So I have a defective one, I can accept that and would be willing to simply repair it (under warranty) or exchange it for another. Instead I am going to exchange it for another brand because of a far worse problem. I have a very good Panasonic DVD player (actually a DVD recorder) with progressive scan and component video output. What I have found is that when I connect this DVD player to the Zenith using component video cables the picture quality is FAR worse than it is with either S-Video or even composite (RCA) cables. The picture is very grainy looking, particularly in dark scenes. This isn't the nitpicking of a videophile either- there is absolutely no doubt in the picture quality: component video is much worse than S-Video or RCA. I have tried setting the DVD output for both 480i and 480p, it doesn't matter. In fact, it isn't even just with a DVD movie that I see the difference; any signal coming through component video cables looks worse, even just watching a cable TV channel using the DVD's tuner. There is nothing to adjust or configure on the set either (confirmed by Zenith customer support), so that isn't the problem.
I have taken my DVD player to a friends Hitachi HD-ready set, and on his the component video signal is clearly better, so it's not my player or cables. I have also tried a different DVD player with my TV. Finally I went back to the store and asked the salesman to connect one of their own DVD players to their own floor demo Zenith using the various cables and they were as surprised as I was to see the obvious difference in picture quality. So this problem doesn't seem to be with my set alone, or have anything to do with the power supply issue (on mine) mentioned earlier.
I called Zenith customer support, and while they answered the phone promptly and were very friendly, they could offer no insight whatsoever as to the problem(s), and only gave me the number of a warranty service center. Given my luck so far however, and especially considering the similar behavior with a second set in the store, I don't have a lot of confidence in a repair (at least for the component video issue), and I really don't want to carry a replacement set home only to find it has the same problem. This is a big, heavy TV.
So sadly I am giving up on this and switching brands. As I said, I really wanted to like this set. The features it offers for the price are unmatched by anything else I could find, and I like the menus and general "feel" of this TV very much. It just seems like in order to squeeze everything in they may have skimped on the quality.

I would recommend that anyone else with this model try comparing the various video inputs, and I would be very interested in reading their comments.

One final comment: while it's nice that this model has both cable and HD tuners built in, virtually all cable and satellite providers use their own digital and HD tuner boxes with scrambled signals, thus the built-in tuners won't receive anything. So unless you are going to receive HD off the air (i.e. using an antenna, which unfortunately I can't where I live), I would not let this feature be the deciding reason for buying the TV (assuming you don't mind the component video problem).

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Zenith 32 Inch HDTV Rock!, January 21, 2004

By 

Robert J Swanson - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zenith C32V37 32-Inch HDTV Integrated TV (Electronics)

Review of Zenith C32V37 HDTV - Just bought one last Sunday
Just bought a Zenith C32V37 last Sunday night.

I used to search the web for reviews of the HDTV, but could not find very many, so here is my review after setting it up over the past 3 days:

Watching a DVD
-I have only played 3 DVDs (Lion King, Star Wars and The Mask) on the system and all 3 looked great (after setting up the color correctly). I set my DVD player to think it is playing to a 16:9 TV, becuase the C32V37 can be set as 16:9 system so you can take advantage of the "Enhanced for Widescreen" DVDs. The Mask is a 4:3 DVD, so it did not look as good and I did not reset my DVD player to 4:3 output because I did not want to take the time (I have very few DVD that are not "Enhanced for Widescreen").

Watching Broadcast (Over the Air) HDTV
-Jay Leno and his guest on the Tonight Show looked better than fantastic. This is the 1st time I have watched HDTV being broadcast over the airwaves. Let's just say that I was shocked how good the picture is on HDTV. I cannot wait for all signals (and sources materail) to be HD. Then I will not need to pay for Comcast Cable any more. The SuperBowl is going to look "Super" this year.
-The Reception of the HD Signal over my RCA Powered (25 DB Gain) Anntena that now sits on top of HDTV is very strong. When I walk around the room the signal does not get cut off and the signal monitor that is built into the TV shows Normal/Good strength throughout the night. This is much better than the Samsung 151 (I think this was the model, it was 6 months ago), which would cause the signal to cut out when someone walked around my living room. The only time the Zenith HD Signal cuts out is when a train comes by my house, the signals dies for only 2 or 3 seconds. So I give the Zenith a much higher rating than the Samsungs HD receiver.

Watching Comcast Analog
-Does not upconvert the signal as well as a Sony HDTV (glass tube), but it is still way better than my old 9 1/2 year old TV. TV shows look good and can be watched with no problem. But, animated shows look GREAT when upconverted by the Zenith.

Flipping channels
-A little pause between channels, I think it is because it has to digitize (put the picture in some kind of RAM) the picture first.
-There is some kind of Surf feature in the HDTV, but I have not set it up yet. I hope this will help scanning the channels a little faster.
-Going between Annalog and Digital channels takes a little while to understand and make it a habit. If you want NBC-HD (which is channels 11 on Analog Comcast), I have to punch in 48-2 (there is a dash button on the remote or type just type in 482). To go back to NBC on annalog cable, I need to punch in 11-0.

Sound
-The sound from the TV is very powerful, sound volumn can go very high.
-Have not hooked it into my Surround Sound system yet, I will use the fiber optic connection tonight so I test out the 5.1 sound coming from HDTV. Will update tomorrow.

1. Size 32 inches (Perfect for our living room)
Length: 22.4 inches
Width: 36 inches
Height: 27 inches

2. Weight
158 pounds (easy for 2 men to pull it out of the box and put it into the TV Stand)

3. Setup (this took me a few tries to get right)
Coaxial #1 connection = Anntena (For HDTV)
Coaxial #2 connection = Cable (Comcast Analog)
-Must tell the system how you have the connectors setup (you have 4 options, I used option three)
-Auto Channel Select took about 3 minutes

4. Color adjust
-All glass HDTV systems colors are set way to high, had to back the color adjust way (and I mean way down) down and set the Tint a little away from the red side.

5. Price
-$999 (got it at Best Buy for $940 with Tax and 4 year warrenty)
-Very good deal considering that it has a built in HDTV receiver that really grabs onto the signal with a little powered anntena!

6. Menus
-Easy to access and select all menu functions. I am a techy kind of guy, so I do not know how a "Non-Techy" person will succed in cruising through menus.

7. Remote Control
-Has easy one button access for most of the controls you will once you get the system setup.
-I can only turn my JVC DVD/Sound Sytem off and on, cannot start/stop DVD player.
-Have not setup the remote to control the VHS machine yet, but it looks like it has more controls/buttons for a VHS player than a DVD player.
-No real problems with the remote and the HDTV, most remote will not control my JVC all-in-one DVD/Surrond Sound system.