Westinghouse LVM-42w2 42-inch 1080p LCD Review

[Clint DeBoer]

<A href="http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/avhardware/westinghouse-LVM-42w2p1.php"><IMG style="WIDTH: 125px; HEIGHT: 91px" alt=[westinghouseLVM42w2] hspace=10 src="http://www.audioholics.com/news/thumbs/westinghouseLVM42w2_th.jpg" align=left border=0></A>I want a 1080p display… I need a 1080p display. After seeing the technology at CES this year that was my mantra… Suddenly, the lesser important things like eating, sleeping and personal hygiene seemed to get pushed aside in my quest for more densely-packed pixels and the ultimate high definition experience. A select few displays actually take 1080p input - the Westinghouse is one of the few and proud. This is a true 1080p display that is slightly ahead of its time – but definitely ready for the future... at least until some uptight MPAA associate demands a new DRM scheme that renders all hardware obsolete and forces us back to using slide projectors and reel to reel tape.

[<A href="http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/avhardware/westinghouse-LVM-42w2p1.php">Read the Review</A>]

[runninkyle17]

I just got mine in today and it is great.

Xbox 360 looks beautiful and the black levels for an LCD are cery good once it is calibrated correctly.

Also hooked my laptop up to it and I will say it now, "You haven't surfed the web until you have surfed on a 42" screen at full 1920 X 1080 resolution".

I will post more about my experiences with the TV later when I have more time to play with it.

Cheers,

Kyle

[Jase]

Wish we could get these over here in Europe. You guys get all the good toys! :)

[Tsunamii]

Wow, I thought it would be more expensive. Maybe I can work 2 or 3 of these into the new costs of the addation I am putting on :)

[djoxygen]

Does anyone know if the 37"-ers use the same processing, backlight, horrendous manual etc...?

From the website it looks like all the specs are the same. 42" is definitely too big for the space. We have a 43" RP and can't wait to swap it out for something smaller. We were looking at the 32" Sharps, but for the same price, I think we could live with something a little bigger than that.

[djoxygen]

A question on the location of the inputs: Are they recessed from the side enough to hide the cables from view?

[jake51s]

Does anyone know if the 37"-ers use the same processing, backlight, horrendous manual etc...?

From the website it looks like all the specs are the same. 42" is definitely too big for the space. We have a 43" RP and can't wait to swap it out for something smaller. We were looking at the 32" Sharps, but for the same price, I think we could live with something a little bigger than that.

I have the LVM37-w1 and I think the processing is the same, but I'm not 100% The back light is there and works just as described. Terrible manual. There are three different versions of the w1 though each with different advertised contrast ratios 600:1, 800:1 and 1000:1. I got an 800:1 before I knew of the 1000:1. From what I have heard the 42 is an improvement, and there is also an LVM-37w2 now, but I don't know much about it.

The oddest thing I have found is the number buttons on the remote. I surprised that Clint did not mention them as much as he likes hating remotes. The TV has no internal tuner, but 1-9 are laid out like you can do something with them. Some of them will even bring up random parts of the menu?

[djoxygen]

I have the LVM37-w1 and I think the processing is the same, but I'm not 100% The back light is there and works just as described. Terrible manual. There are three different versions of the w1 though each with different advertised contrast ratios 600:1, 800:1 and 1000:1. I got an 800:1 before I knew of the 1000:1. From what I have heard the 42 is an improvement, and there is also an LVM-37w2 now, but I don't know much about it.

The oddest thing I have found is the number buttons on the remote. I surprised that Clint did not mention them as much as he likes hating remotes. The TV has no internal tuner, but 1-9 are laid out like you can do something with them. Some of them will even bring up random parts of the menu?

The one I'm considering is the W3, which is published at 1000:1. If you bring up the specs of the 42 and the 37w3 in side-by-side browser tabs and flip between them, there is almost no difference. But I always take published specs with large chunks of salt.

Funny about the remote! I'd wager it's a standard OEM model.

[jake51s]

W3, man I'm way behind :)

[runninkyle17]

The w3 fixes and improves on the w1. The w1 had some problems with lockup issues. The w3 is pretty much the 42' but smaller.

To answer the input question, the inputs are side accessible and are far into the center of the TV to hide the cables. I will post a pick of my 42" pretty soon, but I am currently busy with studying.

The picture is very good and I was surprised to find out that the display has an always on function. You know the one where you can keep the TV on and it will go off when it does not sense any active input. I tested this out and it works quite well. I think this is the setting I will keep it on. I can just turn the cable box off and the TV will flip off and when I turn the cable box on, BAM the TV comes on too. Very nice to find this out.

This is a great TV and I am amazed at the performance once I ran it through the AVIA tests.

[Clint DeBoer]

A question on the location of the inputs: Are they recessed from the side enough to hide the cables from view?Yes, they appear to be very well placed for wall-mounting.

[Clint DeBoer]

The oddest thing I have found is the number buttons on the remote. I surprised that Clint did not mention them as much as he likes hating remotes. The TV has no internal tuner, but 1-9 are laid out like you can do something with them. Some of them will even bring up random parts of the menu?Haha, I noticed that but for some reason it didn't make it into the review. Dang, a missed opportunity to bash the remote. lol. I didn't notice it brought up menu items, I simply never used the buttons.

[Tsunamii]

Clint, what kind of remote do you use? Just Curious

[Clint DeBoer]

Clint, what kind of remote do you use? Just CuriousMX-950 with an MRF-300 unit. You haven't experienced bliss until you get an RF-based system tweaked and running perfectly (assuming you aren't running a custom AMX or Crestron system).

[djoxygen]

Yes, they appear to be very well placed for wall-mounting.

Any of you satisfied Westinghouse LCD owners doing wall-mounting? I am looking at doing an articulating arm and it looks like there are VESA mounting points on the back.

Experiences? Cautionary tales?

[runninkyle17]

The mounting flexibility of this TV is great. It weighs in right around 55 lbs, which makes it nice a light to hang on the wall. I do not have the TV mounted because I like the look of the HT stand I bulit, but there are plenty of options for mounting with the Westy.

I am still very happy with my purchase. The remote has a slight sweet spot issue, but since I am using my Yammy universal remote the remote range is better.

[djoxygen]

Looks like it's a done deal. I've got everything lined up:

The 37w3, a Peerless articulating wall-mount, and a Helios 2085 uprezzing DVD player. The Mac Mini will come up from its router/server duties in the basement, and we should be able to keep ourselves entertained while the basement is under construction.

Just waiting for our escrow refunds from refinancing..........

I'll let y'all know how it is once it arrives.

[runninkyle17]

Looks like it's a done deal. I've got everything lined up:

The 37w3, a Peerless articulating wall-mount, and a Helios 2085 uprezzing DVD player. The Mac Mini will come up from its router/server duties in the basement, and we should be able to keep ourselves entertained while the basement is under construction.

Just waiting for our escrow refunds from refinancing..........

I'll let y'all know how it is once it arrives.

That sounds like a very nice setup. I have been debating getting a dedicated HTPC since I got my 42" Westy. I am currently using my laptop and the resolution and PQ of the Westinghouse is awesome. I also downloaded an HD movie and got to experience some 720p content. Which I must say is stunning. I can't wait to see full 1080p movies on this baby!!!!

[jnorlund]

The review of the 42" said the 1080p over component was an undocumented benefit. Does anyone know if the LVM-37w3 can also accept 1080p sources through component as well?

[djoxygen]

OK the 37w3 has arrived, and I've got it up on the articulating arm, but for the life of me I can't figure out how to remove the stand. Anyone have any experience with this?

[Rex]

Yeah, I'm very happy with my Westinghouse 42". I had some salesman at a local A/V store trash the tv and company because he said Westinghouse was bought out by the Chinese. He would have no part in support the Chinese government he said and was glad his store didn't care that brand. I told him the tv received a high rating, so I pretty much let the conversation end.

[djoxygen]

OK the 37w3 has arrived, and I've got it up on the articulating arm, but for the life of me I can't figure out how to remove the stand. Anyone have any experience with this?

OK, talked to Westinghouse support (which has been fantastic both times I've called them, BTW) and it should be pretty easy. If anyone else is stumped by this, I'll share. (Haven't actually done it yet, so no direct confirmation that this is the correct procedure.)

There is a row of flat-headed philips screws on each side of the central spine where the inputs are located. They are close to the surface, NOT deeply recessed. The bottom 2 on either side (total of 4) hold the base in.

This will be my last post on the 37w3 in this thread. I'll do a user review soon and anyone can hit me with questions/tips/etc... over there.

[rockymtnman]

i read in the review that the monitor has an internal scaler....does that mean if i have a set-top box or dvd player that transmits at 1080i(hdmi) the unit will upscale that to its native 1080p?

ive been considering getting the yammy rx-v4600 but have concerns about it having no upconversion or upscaling capabilities. I am assuming if i have a dvd player that already has hdmi capabilities (ie the yammy dvd-c950), and run it through the 4600, it will pass through to the monitor at 1080i. Is that right?

one last thing....is there a big difference between 1080i and 1080p from a viewing standpoint?

[djoxygen]

i read in the review that the monitor has an internal scaler....does that mean if i have a set-top box or dvd player that transmits at 1080i(hdmi) the unit will upscale that to its native 1080p?

Yes. In a sense, every LCD has a deinterlacer because LCDs don't really scan like CRTs do.

Supposedly as long as the signal stays digital, if you de-interlace a signal that originated as a progressive source, but was rendered as interlaced (such as by an MPEG decoder chip) the original progressive material can be faithfully reconstructed. (I saw the math on this a few years ago and it seemed reasonably solid.)

ive been considering getting the yammy rx-v4600 but have concerns about it having no upconversion or upscaling capabilities. I am assuming if i have a dvd player that already has hdmi capabilities (ie the yammy dvd-c950), and run it through the 4600, it will pass through to the monitor at 1080i. Is that right?

I don't know if you should assume that, but it seems like a reasonable bet. Should be listed in the specs.

one last thing....is there a big difference between 1080i and 1080p from a viewing standpoint?

As far as digital cable, I have no experience comparing 1080i to de-interlaced 1080p. I can tell you that the de-interlaced 1080i HDMI from my Oppo DVD player looks good enough to keep me from diving into the shallow end of the HD-DVD/Blu-Ray pool for a while.

[rockymtnman]

i appreciate your help....maybe you could help me out just a bit more.....the system i am planning on putting together looks like this in my head right now:

yammy rx-v4600
westinghouse lvm-42w2
yammy dvd-950
orb audio home theater speaker system

anything i should be concerned about here or any suggestions would be most appreciated....my budget is right around 5k. i found the 4600 for $1200 at a local retail place new in box, but used as a floor demo. im not psyched about it not having the upscaler or upconverter, but i like the hd radio option. if there is another receiver that gets internet radio or hd radio and has the upscaler for around the same price i'd love to know about it. thanks again for all your help!!

[djoxygen]

No sweat. Unfortunately I can't really offer much advice on the receiver/radio end. The only radio tuner (HD, Sat, or otherwise) in our house is in the dashboard of our car, and I am slowly building a system with active monitors and a balanced pre-pro, so I haven't followed developments in the receiver world.

[Pianoman84d]

If it was me, I'd spend less on the receiver (like get one around $600-700) and spend some money to buy a better sub. The Orb sub is nice, but you can always do better IMHO.