77 of 82 people found the following review helpful:
Local dimming LED/LCD TV for the Rest of Us
VIZIO's VF551XVT is proof that VIZIO can produce not just high value TVs but high performance ones as well. Currently the lowest priced LED-backlit LCD TV with local dimming capability, the VF551XVT offers similar performance to TVs from the name brands which may sell for up to twice the price.
The set's "240 SPS" processing is not "true" 240 Hz, but is...
16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
I don't want to say "Don't buy this TV," but...
First, I did not buy this TV on Amazon, but that has little bearing on the product. I am leaving this review here because many of the reviews I read were here, and I think these points can help form a more complete picture (pardon the pun) of what you are getting.
I did several months of research online before deciding to buy the hype of many positive...
This review is from: VIZIO VF551XVT 55-Inch XVT-Series TruLED 240 Hz SPS HDTV (Electronics)
VIZIO's VF551XVT is proof that VIZIO can produce not just high value TVs but high performance ones as well. Currently the lowest priced LED-backlit LCD TV with local dimming capability, the VF551XVT offers similar performance to TVs from the name brands which may sell for up to twice the price.
The set's "240 SPS" processing is not "true" 240 Hz, but is really 120 Hz processing with a scanning backlight to effectively get 240 "scenes" per second. The feature does reduce motion blur on things like sports and live TV broadcasts, but we found that it added an unnatural video-like look to movies, not unlike other brands' motion smoothing/motion interpolation technology. Also, off-axis viewing is fairly typical for LCD TVs, turning blacks to bluish gray and generally losing color saturation outside a 90 degree viewing angle (45 degrees in either direction).
But viewed on axis (straight ahead), or slightly off axis, the TV produces exceptional black levels for an LCD TV. Dark films on Blu-ray such as "Blade Runner" and "The Dark Knight" produced inky black images with very good shadow detail and crisp image delineation with no noticeable haloing. Colors also appear accurate, with good flesh tones once the set is properly calibrated.
The VF551XVT lacks any kind of internet streaming or IPTV features - this will be coming early next year in the VF552XVT. It's also significantly thicker than the latest LED-backlit TVs from Samsung and LG, but if you're looking for a big flat panel LCD TV with excellent contrast, it's hard to go wrong with the VIZIO.
A complete review of the VF551XVT is available on Big Picture Big Sound (dot com).
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This review is from: VIZIO VF551XVT 55-Inch XVT-Series TruLED 240 Hz SPS HDTV (Electronics)
About a month ago our old DLP HDTV started to go out and I decided that I was tired of throwing money at the TV (expensive bulb replacements) so I decided to go with a newer but STABLE technology.
After doing a lot of research and wanting the best picture I could get with out breaking the bank, I decided on the VIZIO VF551XVT.
There are some people who will tell you to go with a Plasma because you can get a lot more TV for less money than a LCD, especially a LED Back lit TV.
Their right, except, what no one mentions is that unless you can control the light in your room where the TV will be placed you will get horrible reflections because most Plasma TV's have very glossy reflective screens.
Most (not all) LCD TV's have a matte screen and usually do much better in a standard well lit living room like mine.
Also I should mention that Plasma TV's are generally much heaver to mount and consume a great deal more electricity than this TV does.
This is Plasma TV's dirty little secret.
The VIZIO VF551XVT is a bright LED back lit TV that will work well in a totally dark or well lit room.
As for the picture, I bought a VIZIO VBR100 Blu-ray Player to go with it and the picture is stunning!
I won't go into a lot of technical details but suffice to say this TV will have all the adjustments that you need even if you want to calibrate the picture as I did.
Another poster mentioned the sound as being terrible, I don't think it's that bad? it's not an audio system it's a high end TV, most people will use a surround sound system for great sound, but not to worry the Vizio's sound is just fine for casual TV watching.
For those of you who will use the included remote it's a nice back lit multifunction remote control.
There have been some people complaining about the fact that this model is 4.961" inches thick! I have never understood the obsession with supper thin?
Yes you can get a super thin Samsung at about $500 more! that's $100 a inch to look at the TV side ways and brag to your friends? weird but OK.
As for me I have never been happier with a TV than I am now.
Got mine for $1876 at Sams Club (sorry Amazon) and I highly recommend this TV, you will not be sorry.
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This review is from: VIZIO VF551XVT 55-Inch XVT-Series TruLED 240 Hz SPS HDTV (Electronics)
I researched many high end LCD blacklit TV's before I decided to purchase the VIZIO VF551XVT 55 Inch TruLED 240 Hz SPS HDTV. This particular model has the same quality and features found in current high-end Samsung and LG Models but at almost half the price.
The carrier service that delivered the TV was excellent. They brought the TV from the delivery truck into my home and unpacked it and placed it in my living room for me. They also took away the packing materials when they left.
I hooked my XBox, Blu-Ray DVD Player, Amplifier,and HD Cable Box to this TV quite easily. The instructions that came with the TV were very clear and easy to understand. I was able to program the remote control that came with this TV to operate my cable box, amplifier and DVD player in no time with minimal effort. I just followed the instructions in the manual.
I am very pleased with this TV. The picture is awesome, the features are great, the quality is excellent and it didn't cost a fortune. I give it five stars.
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This review is from: VIZIO VF551XVT 55-Inch XVT-Series TruLED 240 Hz SPS HDTV (Electronics)
I recently purchased the Vizio 55" TRU LED TV after about 2 months of intense research and shopping. I was originally going to get a 65" DLP because my friend had one and the picture on them are amazing, however they are quite large and space was a major issue in my smaller apartment.
The Smart Dimming LED's created the BLACKEST blacks possible, and this is amplified by the 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio. All colors are crystal clear and accurate, and everyone that has seen this TV has said that it looks like a 3D image, and that it really sucks you into the movies because it is so lifelike.
I have nothing bad to say about the TV, and continue to be amazed every time I use the TV (HD Cable, HD DVD, Blu Ray, Xbox). You WILL NOT BE DISSAPOINTED with this TV.
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This review is from: VIZIO VF551XVT 55-Inch XVT-Series TruLED 240 Hz SPS HDTV (Electronics)
First, I did not buy this TV on Amazon, but that has little bearing on the product. I am leaving this review here because many of the reviews I read were here, and I think these points can help form a more complete picture (pardon the pun) of what you are getting.
I did several months of research online before deciding to buy the hype of many positive reviews and finally purchasing the VF551XVT. I went with this one over the 552 because I really didn't need wireless or the gadgets, and this one was in stock. When it arrived, I was impressed by its size, obviously, but it is quite thick. I knew this going in, but when it's in front of you it becomes apparent that it would be a beast to mount on a wall. On a table, it looks grand. The gray sound bar was much less of a distraction than I thought it would be, and in a darkened room, it disappears. The frame of the cabinet is a little thicker than most TV's, but being black really subdues it well. Overall, the construction seemed solid for just about any TV, never mind the fact that it's substantially cheaper than any other local dimming LED of this size.
The sound bar delivers room filling sound, in my experience, and really helped immerse the viewer into the movie. I never made it to hooking it up to my receiver and surround sound speakers, so all of the movies I watched were from the sound bar, and I never really felt a real need to hook it all up. In a nutshell, the sound is the absolute best feature of this TV, in my opinion.
On the other hand, the picture is the TV's downfall. This was my first HD TV, so when I first got it, I was aching to hook the PS3 up and watch the Blu-Rays I had bought. First movie in was The Dark Knight, and I have to say it BLEW MY MIND. Again, this was really my first experience with HD so "blew my mind" might even be an understatement. Very sharp edges, great resolution and realism on shiny objects especially. When I watched Gladiator (personal fave), I actually had to turn settings down and really mess with the settings because the character's jewelery and other shiny objects were literally leaping out of the screen in a weird 3D effect, and the faces of people on closeups looked like a bad BBC movie. I watched these movies in complete darkness to test the local dimming, and I have to say it was great! Under the right circumstances, it was obvious how nice the blacks were by the letterbox lines seeming to disappear. After all of this, I was thoroughly impressed with my new TV, although the picture on anything SD (DirecTV) was extremely harsh and "out of focus". I could let that go as I plan to get HD obviously, but it's something to note.
Then the trouble began. I watched I Am Legend one night, and it was then I saw it. As Will Smith's head moved horizontally across the screen in a high contrast action scene, there was a blur. I'm not sure if blur is the right word, as it was more of a stutter in the edges of Mr. Smith's face. After that, I couldn't UN-notice it. Anything that moves across the screen horizontally will have a few "ghost" edges behind it like your mouse pointer does if you move it quickly around your desktop. Once I saw it, it was EVERYWHERE. We couldn't even finish the movie because it was giving us a headache. I worked with settings until I was blue in the face, but to no avail. Movies were nothing to look forward to on my long coveted new toy. I was most disappointed.
Luckily, I was able to take it back. Happy ending. :)
So, I don't want to say "Don't buy this TV," but the story above is true. I took it back, went straight to the local hot spot and picked out a 50 inch Panasonic Viera for $600 less than I paid for this, and the picture is out-freakin-standing. Even on the same DirecTV (SD) feed, the picture is phenomenal and looks like it does on a CRT. I'm not trying to sell you on this TV, but I think I am a plasma fan from here on out, and the difference in the SD picture is very substantial. Last night, I streamed Office Space (oldie but awesome!) from my PC hard drive and it looked as if it was off of an HD DVD plugged right into the TV. There was no loss of quality from my 24 inch monitor to the 50 inch, something I haven't found before.
I hope this helps someone else either avoid making the same mistake I did, or at least try to take note of a noticeable blur or stutter when watching things move across the screen in high contrast with the background. If you see this, ditch the TV immediately because it won't go away.
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This review is from: VIZIO VF551XVT 55-Inch XVT-Series TruLED 240 Hz SPS HDTV (Electronics)
I bought this t.v from Sams Club about a month ago for 1,600.00, it is nice, I dont care too much for wifi thats why I have a home networking set up to stream to my PS3 or xbox. The 240HRTZ is nice but is artificial along with the 120 or just like the 600 from plasmas. I have nothing bad to say about this t.v. im a gamer and the picture is excellent. Dont waste your money on the super thin LED t.v.'s that samsung makes just the fact if the light goes out it is not replaceable. The LED tv's that are just as thick as standard tv's are better, they weigh the same and lighting is replaceable if it goes out after warranty. Keep in mind that the contrast ratio 2,000,000-1 is only digitally inhanced and is not native, no t.v. produces a true native 2,000,000-1 contrast ratio but it is nice, LED tv's are the only LCD tv's that can just about compare quality that a plasma can the 1 billion colors compared to standard LCD's that only have 16 million and plasma pushing the 1 billion colors also. I still prefer LCD's over plasmas and I do prefer this t.v. I dont think theres going to be that much of a noticable diff. between this t.v. and other LED's.
I hope this review Informs you about some things you may have not known about LED's and keep checking at Sams, they have had the best deals on tv's over anyone I have found on the net.
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This review is from: VIZIO VF551XVT 55-Inch XVT-Series TruLED 240 Hz SPS HDTV (Electronics)
I went big and got the Sharp Aquos 60" LC-C6077UN from Costco but after 2 weeks no one in my family was jumping up and down about it's picture quality. We had a Vizio already (37") and all thought it's picture quality was better than the Sharp. I saw that Costco dropped the price on the VF551XVT to $1,599, which was worth me NOT waiting on the VF552XVT. I scored it last night and immediately upon hookup we could see how more vibrant the colors were than the Sharp. Good move. We are very happy. One nice side feature is the picture-by-picutre feature which allows my kids to play the Wii while I watch the big game.
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This review is from: VIZIO VF551XVT 55-Inch XVT-Series TruLED 240 Hz SPS HDTV (Electronics)
We have had the Vizio 55" LED for several weeks now and have been thoroughly impressed. Picture quality is top notch. Everything from standard definition programming to HD programming has looked good on this TV. I had to make very few tweaks to the settings out of the box. Vizio got it right with this set. Can't say much for the audio quality. Like all audio on TVs, there is little bass and the audio just doesn't sound great. We have a home theatre setup, so the audio isn't a factor for us. It is a heavy set and it does wobble on it's base, but it seems secure enough. Haven't tried Blu-Ray with it, so cannot comment on that. It does play back media files through USB great though. Tried pictures, audio, and even video files and as long as you have the right codecs, the playback is crisp and smooth. Highly recommend this TV.
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This review is from: VIZIO VF551XVT 55-Inch XVT-Series TruLED 240 Hz SPS HDTV (Electronics)
After seeing the 52" Samsung LED at a friends house, I was so impressed with the LED picture quality that I knew I would end up buying one for myself. As I researched I soon found that everyone that makes a LED TV has a pretty strong rating, therefore I decided to wait until "black Friday" then buy from the one with the best price. Turned out to by the 55" Vizio LED from Amazon (under $2000 delivered). Even more amazing was I order it around 6pm on Friday, and it was delivered 2 days later on Sunday!!! We had it set up and running within the hour of receiving it. Set up was very easy, and the difference in picture quality from our 50" Plasma is amazing! I will not tell you that it is better than the Samsung, Sharp, or any other product. What I will tell you is 3 weeks later, we have no "buyers remorse". In fact we are still riding that new TV high! I would highly recommend this product.
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