Vizio's 42-inch VP422 plasma gets reviewed: you get what you pay for
Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
sikantis @ Jul 16th 2008 5:29PM
Thanks for this information.
Elliot Nash @ Jul 16th 2008 5:33PM
You say $999 in the story, but on CNET's web site it lists the price as $799.99
PGP-Protector @ Jul 16th 2008 5:41PM
price is just dropping faster & faster these days.
Tejas @ Jul 16th 2008 6:26PM
it's $747 at Wal-Mart!
a 42" plasma at that rate might skimp on some features, but it's good enough for most purposes!
OneLove @ Jul 16th 2008 5:42PM
I can get a 50" philips plasma or a 42" Samsung for $999 at newegg
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889104082
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889102179
Reader @ Jul 16th 2008 7:15PM
Add 100 for shipping. Still a good price though.
Andrew @ Jul 16th 2008 6:07PM
FWIW, I'm under the impression that the reviewer made up his mind about this TV before he started the review.
Engadget, you say "those with even a single videophile gene in 'em should be wary", well I'm what you'd call a "videophile" (webmaster, video editor, photographer, gamer, movie nut...) who just purchased this TV. I have had nothing but the best experience with this monitor. And this is not the first HDTV that I have owned.
If you read the review, most of his complaints are minor issues that he himself justifies with statements like "We don't consider that difference a big deal, however...". In fact when you get into the performance portion of his review the only real complaint he has is that the green reproduction is incorrect. I believe that this may have just been an inaccurate unit, as my experience has been quite different. The unit I've calibrated has had no issues with it's ability to reproduce accurate colors.
And his complaint about the white balance presets not looking right, what serious "videophile" ever really uses the color presets on a TV monitor?
I know that you do in fact "get what you pay for" however in this case I believe that this just may be a good deal.
JD @ Jul 16th 2008 6:59PM
I agree. I bought this TV for parents and the color presets out of the box were off. However, after spending 15 minutes on the TV and manually calibrating the settings it looks great. I have this TV hooked up to their cable box and HD content streams in beautifully and looks excellent as well.
The CNET reviewer definitely has a bias against this TV. It's one thing to say the TV produces poor quality images, but another to state that he was able to produce accurately colored images after some simple calibration and still take off points.
All in all, for $747 at Wal-Mart you can't beat the price or quality of what you receive. As stated in the review my only complaint is the inability to change aspect ratios from HD sources on the TV.
BananaBoat @ Jul 16th 2008 9:52PM
For 750 bucks, this thing is an incredible steal. If they ever get 1080p TV's at 42" down to 750 bucks, I'll be very tempted to buy one as a gigantic oversized computer monitor.
If this is a 6 at this size and price point, I'd LOVE to see a 10.
JSC @ Jul 16th 2008 6:34PM
I have this TV and it is awesome for $747. I use it for my xBox 360 and it looks great in 720p..... Luvin it.
Tom G @ Jul 16th 2008 6:47PM
Try and find a TV that isnt made in China, retard.
xB Owner @ Jul 16th 2008 7:07PM
If you are going to spend a thousand bucks on a Vizio, you'd be better off taking a look at the VO42LF from Costco. It isn't a plasma, but it is an exceptional LCD for the price.
And as mentioned by everyone else... the VP422 is a sub $800 1080i plasma. How well should it stack up against a $5,000+ KURO? That is like saying an S2000 isn't a good car because it doesn't perform as well as an F430 Spider.
vdogg89 @ Jul 16th 2008 7:08PM
i was about to run to walmart tonight to pick this up for $750. Its probly not as bad as they make it sound. I mean, cnet is used to reviewing expensive products and Im sure their standards are fairly high.
Tyson @ Jul 16th 2008 7:52PM
I have a 37 in one and I have had it for like 2 years and its not that bad for the price.
mkim @ Jul 16th 2008 8:49PM
I have to keep reminding myself that engadget "writers" are just bloggers and are more or less about as qualified as most of us are to write about any of this stuff.
EUPHOR1C @ Jul 16th 2008 9:02PM
To the person above who was now thinking on not going with this TV from the CNET review, you should reconsider. The cost to performance ratio on Vizio sets blow many of the "brand" name company sets out of the water. My father in law has both a 42 inch plasma and 37 inch LCD from Vizio and they are excellent tvs. I have a 32 inch plasma in the bedroom and couldn't be more happy with it. I like it more than my 50 inch Sony LCD. Yes there are Sony and other monitors that out perform this thing. If the $2000 + price difference is worth that 10% better image quality you can will hardly ever see, then go for it. Vizio is also a company based here in Southern CA, I think its great that they aren't trying to nickel and dime us like every other manufacturer foreign/abroad is doing right now.
roberto luongo @ Jul 16th 2008 9:08PM
you know, i could post the following comment on any story and it would still be relevant (and funny):
i was trying to see this on my new iphone but it wouldn't load.
we are such tools of Steve Jobbs and his stupid iphone.
and while i'm at it, i am not a microsoft fanboy. i hate microsoft fanboys. and apple fanboys. there is no rite answer to the microsoft vs apple. different ppl have different needs. If you are just doing email and word processing then you need windows. if you are doing graphic design and stuff, then you need apple. apples are wayyy overpriced for what most people use them for. and ipods work fine on windows. if you have itunes. did i mention what tools we are of steve jobbs?
BuffaloSoilder @ Jul 16th 2008 9:15PM
I don't care what this says this is a "Sam's Choice" HDTV. Do what you want but I for one will never by electronics at Wal Mart.
Funke, Tobias Dr. @ Jul 16th 2008 9:16PM
Thank god there exists the option for people to buy low end stuff like this. Imagine what would happen to the price of quality electronics if there wasn't low end stuff to satisfy the great unwashed. Not only would the high end manufacturers have less pressure on their prices, but the demand for their equipment (and the price in turn) would skyrocket.
In virtually all cases, you get what you pay for. That being said, there are plenty of things that are closely matched in quality, but have a great price difference solely because of a brand name. Even then, you're still paying more for snob appeal.
cashbash @ Jul 16th 2008 9:21PM
I picked up the 32 inch version of this set, and It is THE best set money can buy at the 500-600 dollar price point. Period. After 15 minutes with a thx calibration, I am more than happy. Best blacks you are gonna get on a 32 inch tv. period. Of course it can't compete with a kuro. But a starving college student aint getting a kuro. Amazing HDTV. I recomend it any day of the week. A++
Han Solo @ Jul 16th 2008 10:19PM
Vizio SD signal processing is amazing compared to the competition.
In my experience, one of the unsung hero's of Vizio's product is their incredible SD processing.
Many HDTV's in the sub-3000 range look good with HD content, but many look so-so or horrible when displaying SD content.
Vizio's $1000+ TV's blow the competition up to the $3000 range out of the water for SD content display quality.
You have to go do a high end Sony Bravia $4000+ TV to get something that beats the Vizio SD quality.
Remember, that a large % of the content is going to SD for a long time, and frankly the display quality of SD is almost as important to me as the HD quality.
And I got news for whoever wrote this, anyone who is a REAL VIDEOPHILE and hangs out places like AVSForum knows the Vizio's require a specific set of tweaking of the factory settings to look awesome.
Ryan @ Jul 17th 2008 12:56AM
http://www.jr.com/panasonic/pe/PAN_TH42PX80U/ for $100 more you can get a Panasonic TH42PX80U which has remarkable colors/contrast
TERRY @ Jul 17th 2008 1:00AM
Don't forget you are living among those "Made in China/Taiwan crap" every day...
Are you using a "crap" to see this msg now???
Ha ha...
Abbey @ Jul 17th 2008 1:10PM
Ryan, that's a fine plasma display, but personally, I would spring the extra few duggets and get the 50 incher. It's quite affordable.
http://www.jr.com/panasonic/pe/PAN_TH50PZ80U/?JRSource=socnet
Elmer @ Jul 24th 2008 3:23PM
I have to agree with the reviewer. You really get what you pay for! Low priced companies like Olivea, Proview, Vizio, etc., all have one thing in common..............plenty of refurbs and open box deals. Do your own research.
And as for you posters that praise these companies, just give it about 2 years, 'cause that's all you're going to average with your lcd or plasma.
My Olivea 32" lcd, quit after only 15 months of moderate use. Now their in bankruptcy court! I wonder why? I purchased a Fedders a/c unit from Walmart about 18 months ago, with a 5yr warranty. Now my a/c is doa! Guess what again? Fedders filed for bankruptcy earlier this year, and will not honor any existing extended warranties. I wonder why?
I recently visited Walmart & spent about a hour viewing the Vizio P-42 plasma, and I gotta tell you, the picture quality just doesn't compare to the Sony's, Samsungs or Panasonics.
So any prudent consumer must assume the same conclusion concerning the build quality, which equates to longevity. Hey, I'm not rich and neither are most of you who read these review blogs. Therefore, I don't have $800 to spend every two years on a product of leisure!
Now if you can spare to lose the money, buy an extended warranty, and hope like hell that the company doesn't go under, because if they do, they don't have to honor any extended warranties, and you'll be stuck with a $800 paperweight.
Do yourself a favor, and spend a hundred bucks more, for a quality television that you and your family can enjoy without the worries and hassels. That's exactly what I plan to do.
andy @ Sep 1st 2008 10:59PM
i just bought a PS3 for my vizio 42" plasma, when i go under display settings when on the PS3, i select component then it gives me the option of 480p, 720p, 1080i, and 1080p, i have tried selecting each of them numerous times and the screen will just go blank then come back after 30 secs. For some reason when i select composite/s video it gives me the option of selecting 16:9 or 4:3 and i select 16:9 and it works fine. Why will it not work when i try and set it up for 1080 or even 720p...