VIZIO SV422XVT 42-Inch Class XVT Series 240Hz sps LCD VIZIO Internet Apps HDTV

Review by PressureTiger for VIZIO SV422XVT 42-Inch Class XVT Series 240Hz sps LCD VIZIO Internet Apps HDTV
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I bought this TV at Costco for $849.00. Easy to set up out of the box and easy to connect to my network. The picture is clear even though I have yet to watch HD. The Internet Apps provide instant information and still allow you to continue watching TV. Your network will automatically update the television and new apps when available. The apps act like a carousel at the bottom of the screen with the push of a button. You can even bookmark pages within apps to appear on your carousel (I have the weather for my city appear in the carousel). There are not a ton of Apps at this time…more to come. I have read that it will be an open source application…allowing people to develop their own apps, much like the IPhone.

The remote is bluetooth and has a full qwerty keyboard. The remote is universal and can sync with bluetooth devices and those with an infrared signal. The qwerty keyboard feels rubbery, but does the trick. There is even a spot on the keyboard that looks like a gamepad for future gaming apps.

You will need a High Speed internet connection in order to view streaming content on the TV. There are several different apps at this time that provide different services for streaming video, and they are all easy to access.

The requirements to stream.

SD: 1 Mbps

720p: 2.25 Mbps

1080p: 4.5 Mbps

For the price, you will not find a comparable TV with this many options. With this TV’s instant access to information, great picture quality, and bluetooth remote; this TV is the best Bang for your Buck.

Update (06/01/10):

I began having issues with the TV turning off and restarting randomly. I could force the TV to restart itself by exiting out of the Netflix App. I called Vizio Customer service and they sent someone out the same week to fix the issue. Vizio had the repairman replace both boards on the unit. So far, so good. I was concerned when the issue occured largely because of the bad reports I have read on Vizio’s customer service. I on the other hand was impressed with the customer service of Vizio. They tried to troubleshoot the problem and corrected the problem quickly. They basically replaced everything on the TV except the screen.

I will provide another update if this didn’t solve the issue, but would still recommend the TV.

Review by C. Lusby for VIZIO SV422XVT 42-Inch Class XVT Series 240Hz sps LCD VIZIO Internet Apps HDTV
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I bought this tv a couple of weeks ago on QVC for $849 and paid an additional $65 for shipping. QVC was a great option as it allowed me to pay for the set over 5 months with no interest. It was so popular that it sold out during its first airing and hasn’t been featured again. I’ve also noticed that most stores do not have this tv in stock. **Beware of other Vizios with similar model numbers. Vizio has another version (older model) of this tv without the built in wifi and apps that sells for $50 to $100 less. Its still a great tv but for such a small difference in price you should get the better tv.***

This tv is impressive. For one, it has a great picture out of the box. Second, the apps are amazing. Pandora, Facebook, Flickr, Weather, Netflix, etc. They are great. I knew I’d use Netflix and Pandora but I’m loving all of them. I doubt I’ll update my FB status while in front of the tv but its nice to view photos on the big screen from a friend’s profile. Amazon Video on Demand and Vudu work great and came with free rentals.

The set up was easy. The stand came attached to the tv so it was just a matter of pulling it out the box and plugging it in. The tv walks you through the necessary connections, remote set up, and connecting to the wireless network. The built in wifi is a must have feature for anyone looking for a tv with internet access as most people don’t have a cable modem in the same room as their tv.

The remote works very well with my comcast cable box. With other tvs I’ve had to use both remotes because there were issues controlling volume or power but not with this remote. It fully operates the cable box. Its also a bluetooth remote so it will control the tv when you aren’t pointing it at the tv. The slider function is nice too. When using the apps, you can type with the slider keyboard instead of picking letter by letter with an on screen keyboard. This is a great feature and saves a lot of time. Its a bit wider than your average slider phone so it takes some getting used to but its better than a wireless keyboard.

Also, the tv has 4 HDMI inputs so you can have dedicated inputs for your dvd player, gaming system, laptop, etc. There are also 3 USB inputs but they aren’t yet functional. I’ve been told that Vizio will eventually release a firmware update so that these can be used.

I wish this tv were offered in LED like the 47″ and 55″ versions but that’s just because I want the lastest and greatest. There is nothing wrong with this tv.

One downside that I’ve identified is that the volume adjuster for loud commercials doesn’t really get the job done. I find myself reaching for the remote and muting commercials because they are still too loud. Another oddity is that the tv has a strong plastic smell out of the box. The smell is overpowering and is so strong I question whether its safe and not toxic. I’ve actually got a service appointment with Vizio next week about this. The tv works fine and the smell has lessened some but its still there. I initially thought it was the packaging but its clear that its part of the tv as it gets worse when the tv has been on for long periods of time.

Overall, I highly recommend this tv. I’m even considering one of the larger versions for my living room and moving this one to my bedroom.

Review by J. M. Brockway for VIZIO SV422XVT 42-Inch Class XVT Series 240Hz sps LCD VIZIO Internet Apps HDTV
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Purchased this from Amazon on a preorder before it was released. It was definitely worth the wait! I set the TV up myself with the on screen step by step guide, even the wifi was very easy to setup, especially with the keypad on the remote! Great picture, even on an angle. Quite a few great apps with more to come. Very cool TV.

Review by saheeb21 for VIZIO SV422XVT 42-Inch Class XVT Series 240Hz sps LCD VIZIO Internet Apps HDTV
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I had recently purchased a Consumer Reports Best Buy 42″ Sanyo 60 hz LED HDTV for $600 before a buddy of mine told me about the 47″ Vizio he bought with internet apps that allowed him to stream Netflix. I decided to try the 42″ Vizio because anything larger is really too big for the room.

I picked up the 42″ Vizio 240hz at Costco for $850. Setup was pretty easy, and I liked the QWERTY board on the controls. The internet apps worked perfectly, and I was able to stream Netflix right away.

However, I had 3 major problems with the Vizio:

1. The picture. The HD channels froze every few seconds. This was not simply motion lag or judder; it would freeze up more than it would play. I had not had any problems when I played them on the Sanyo. I had my cable company check the signal, and it was strong. Additionally, I noticed motion lag and judder on the non-HD channels even though they were fine on the Sanyo. The Vizio also had white lines that would flash occasionally; again, I had had no problems like this with the Sanyo, even though it was only 60hz. When it worked properly, the Vizio picture was no better than the Sanyo.

2. The sound. The SRS with volume control was also part of the reason I tried the Vizio, but it was a total bust. I still have an old Philips Magnavox CRT TV with Smart Sound that works perfectly at leveling out the sound between programs and commercials. The Vizio did not even out the sound at all. The commercials were still very loud, and, even worse, the sound on the programs would fade in and out. I was constantly having to adjust the volume. The sound from the Sanyo was better.

3. The controls. The functions I use frequently, like changing the picture shape, changing the picture view (i.e., movie, sports, games, etc.), and close captioning, were directly on the Sanyo remote. With the Vizio, you have to go through several menu screens to make these changes, and that gets pretty annoying after a while, especially when it was so easy with the Sanyo.

The internet apps were cool, but a TV has to have a good picture and good sound, and this Vizio had neither.

I returned the Vizio to Costco, and they took it back with no problem. The tech guy thought there might be a problem with the digital tuner that was causing the HD channels to freeze. Regardless, I think the Sanyo is a better overall HDTV. I don’t miss the internet apps too much because we have a Wii and can access the internet and stream Netflix through it.