Vizio 37" or Astar 32"

[vwchappy]

Hi,

I am looking for advice on which LCD to get.

Vizio L37HDTV10AR 37" REFURBISHED $549.99

or

Astar LTV-32ASB 32" BRAND NEW $509.99

I know Vizio is a more common name, and it's nice that it is bigger, but it IS refurbished and the contrast ratio is less (800:1) of what the Astar has (1200:1). Is that a big deal? I don't have a problem spending the extra $40, but since it's not brand new, and the contrast ratio is less - I dunno.

The room it will go in is only about 7 feet between couch and TV.

These are both on PCMALL and I have $400 worth of gift certificates for them.

What would be the better buy??

Thanks!!

[edDV]

Hi,

I am looking for advice on which LCD to get.

Vizio L37HDTV10AR 37" REFURBISHED $549.99

or

Astar LTV-32ASB 32" BRAND NEW $509.99

I know Vizio is a more common name, and it's nice that it is bigger, but it IS refurbished and the contrast ratio is less (800:1) of what the Astar has (1200:1). Is that a big deal? I don't have a problem spending the extra $40, but since it's not brand new, and the contrast ratio is less - I dunno.

The room it will go in is only about 7 feet between couch and TV.

These are both on PCMALL and I have $400 worth of gift certificates for them.

What would be the better buy??

Thanks!!

How do you want to use it?

If only for progressive movie DVD playback, both will be good but we would then need to talk about connections and the quality of your "progressive" DVD player.

If only for HD reception, 720p or 480p will probably look good but 1080i will struggle.

If like most humans, you watch 80% 480i content, then both will suck. We just need to find out which sucks least.

[vwchappy]

Hi,

I am looking for advice on which LCD to get.

Vizio L37HDTV10AR 37" REFURBISHED $549.99

or

Astar LTV-32ASB 32" BRAND NEW $509.99

I know Vizio is a more common name, and it's nice that it is bigger, but it IS refurbished and the contrast ratio is less (800:1) of what the Astar has (1200:1). Is that a big deal? I don't have a problem spending the extra $40, but since it's not brand new, and the contrast ratio is less - I dunno.

The room it will go in is only about 7 feet between couch and TV.

These are both on PCMALL and I have $400 worth of gift certificates for them.

What would be the better buy??

Thanks!!

How do you want to use it?

If only for progressive movie DVD playback, both will be good but we would then need to talk about connections and the quality of your "progressive" DVD player.

If only for HD reception, 720p or 480p will probably look good but 1080i will struggle.

If like most humans, you watch 80% 480i content, then both will suck. We just need to find out which sucks least.

I guess I could say 95% of the time it will be used to watch Digital Cable from Comcast. 5% would be watching DVD's - out of a standard progressive scan right now - than will upgrade that later. I would most likely subscribe to HD, but not for sports, cause I'm not that big into watching sports. HD viewing would be fore the movie channels and stuff that we alrteady have in HD.

[Cornucopia]

On a recent shoot the DP used of all things an Astar (?25"?) for HD Field monitor for the Director to view off the HVX-200 via component. Looked great! No LCD smear. Sharp as a tack. Not the best brightness/contrast for outdoor work (even when hooded), but not much is. (Not sure about color purity, but then they weren't using a MacBeth chart anyway, and I just shut my mouth concentrating on Audio)

Although I am normally put off by no-name brands, the Astar sure seemed a very good deal.

Scot

[edDV]

Hi,

I am looking for advice on which LCD to get.

Vizio L37HDTV10AR 37" REFURBISHED $549.99

or

Astar LTV-32ASB 32" BRAND NEW $509.99

I know Vizio is a more common name, and it's nice that it is bigger, but it IS refurbished and the contrast ratio is less (800:1) of what the Astar has (1200:1). Is that a big deal? I don't have a problem spending the extra $40, but since it's not brand new, and the contrast ratio is less - I dunno.

The room it will go in is only about 7 feet between couch and TV.

These are both on PCMALL and I have $400 worth of gift certificates for them.

What would be the better buy??

Thanks!!

How do you want to use it?

If only for progressive movie DVD playback, both will be good but we would then need to talk about connections and the quality of your "progressive" DVD player.

If only for HD reception, 720p or 480p will probably look good but 1080i will struggle.

If like most humans, you watch 80% 480i content, then both will suck. We just need to find out which sucks least.

I guess I could say 95% of the time it will be used to watch Digital Cable from Comcast. 5% would be watching DVD's - out of a standard progressive scan right now - than will upgrade that later. I would most likely subscribe to HD, but not for sports, cause I'm not that big into watching sports. HD viewing would be fore the movie channels and stuff that we alrteady have in HD.

What separates cheap LCD from expensive LCD?

Both have progressive display but differ in video processing quality. The two TV sets you are evaluating come from the cheap end of the spectrum. As a brand Vizio has more credibility.

"Vizio L37HDTV10AR 37"
native 1366 x 768, 800:1 contrast, 8ms response, Brightness: 500cd/m2
Tuner -- ATSC/QAM/NTSC

"Astar LTV-32ASB 32"
native 1366x768, 1200:1 contrast, 8ms response, Brightness: 600cd/m2
Tuner -- yes?? very vaugue. Probably being sold illegally
ok, Buy.com says "Built-in analog/digital tuner (NTSC/ATSC)" no QAM?

Based on those specs the Vizio is larger but may perform somewhat less well in bright rooms. If cable is your source, Vizio's QAM tuning is a big plus.

Problem is neither describe the video processing thus one must conclude that both lack inverse telecine for film sources (i.e. blurry mess from movie DVD). Deinterlace must be observed with a 480i cable digital source and action oriented source video. The cheap sets I observe in BestBuy-Frys often show pixel block explosions around objects in motion. Awful deinterlace performance.

So bottom line, evaluate these sets before you buy in a showroom with sources like those you will use. Then go buy what you want at best price.

I still like the idea of building a test DVDr with mixed dark, light, motion and still 480i video and insist they play your DVD to the test TV. If they say they can't do that, carry your own DVD player+cables in the car and plug it in.

Absent testing, expect LCD sets like above to look good with HD (720p best) and progressive DVD source but truely awful for 480i "digital cable" and analog NTSC sources.

As a general rule, 480i "digital cable" and analog NTSC sources will look better on more expensive sets but not always. Test for yourself.

Another general rule is cheap sets will look OK if fed from a "HD" level cable box which can output 720p. The processing is then done in the cable box. Likewise for DVD, a high performing progressive DVD player feeding 480p or 720p should be used.

In other words, cheap TV sets require expensive upstream tuners and progressive DVD players. Expensive high performing TV sets can manage 1080i/480i inputs from cable or DVD. Don't mix non-HD cable boxes or cheap DVD 480i players with cheap LCD HDTV sets.

[dun4cheap]

Go the Vizio hands down. The screen is made by phillips. You can get the 42" for $600.. I have the 47" which I bought from Costco and just love it. It has a lot of inputs as well.

I have mine in the living room, it is hooked up to my media center, philip 642 via component video and set on progressive. The upscaling that is built in to the Vizio works well. You really cannot go wrong. I bought mine from Costco a few months back when they went onsale for $1699. I have my PC hooked up via VGA and SVIDEO, the VGA is at 1920x1080 which looks awesome. HD playback is great on it.

[vwchappy]

Thanks for everyones inputs!!

I am leaning toward the Vizio - but what do you think the REFURBISHED part means?? Do you think someone boaught it, hooked it up, saw dead pixels or didn't like it, and returned it? If it was labeled as NEW - I wouldn't even look at the others - but I'm just a bit skeptical of the fact that it is REFURBISHED.

[janthenat]

I'll give my opinion as an owner of an Astar LTV-32asb...

Let me start by saying I am a fan of refurbished products as long as either 1) the item is smallish, like < $100, or 2) I can get an extended warranty for the item for at least as long as the manufacturer's original warranty. For me, this would rule out the Vizio right off the bat, unless you don't mind paying more for a 3rd party warrany if its available.

I have almost all good things to say about the LTV-32asb having had mine in place for about 3 months now. Right up front, I'll tell you that the Astar's sound quality is mediocre despite the fact that it includes 2x15watt speakers instead of the 2x10watt speakers that are in most budget TVs. And having mentioned the "eh...so-so" audio, that is the end of the "cons" for the Astar set. The picture is outstanding when displaying true HD DTV over the air using my old house top antenna. Picture from my standard DVD player using Component video is excellent as well. We use it for our GameCube on standard Composite and it looks great. We have DirecTV (non-HD) connected with S-Video and it is good enough, as expected with 480i on this type of set. I have to mention that 480i satellite TV looks about the same on my father in-law's 42" Hitachi Plasma, so I don't know that there is much to be expected in that regard. One thing I have noticed though, and I'm not sure if this is true for all LCD tv's or not, but cartoons look incredible on this set. We have two young boys and therefore watch lots of cartoons and they really do look great.

As for technical specifics, the only thing you gain with the Vizio, apart from the 5 inches of screen, is one composite input, but at the same time you lose one HDMI input because the Astar has 2 HDMI. And to clear up any confusion, the Astar does have a QAM tuner. Also, the S-Video input on the Astar is on the back, not the side which is where the Vizio's is located. I think the most important differences are found where they matter most... and that's with Brightness and Contrast Ratio, and the difference is relatively significant. With these budget LCD TVs I think most people would agree that any available gain in brightness and contrast are worth checking out. Generally, in the budget models, these details speak to the quality of the panel itself.

The Vizio shows the following specs...
Response Time: 8 ms
Brightness: 500 cd/m2
Contrast Ratio: 800:1

...While the Astar shows the following...
Response Time: 8 ms
Brightness: 600 cd/m2
Contrast Ratio: 1200:1
(by the way, the LCD Panel in this Astar model is made by Sharp according to www.astarelectronics.com)

Also, so far the technical support from Astar has been top notch (I like to call tech support and ask questions just to get an idea of their knowledge level and customer service style). I live in "nowheresville" north central Illinois and discovered that there is an authorized repair shop within 20 miles. Most name brands require me to send away for service.

I can't comment on the quality of the Vizio product because I haven't seen one other than in passing at Sam's. I figured I'd put in my 2 cents, if for no other reason that to confuse the issue a little more... ;^)

[vwchappy]

Thank you so much for your input! I actually found another Vizio on the site, the VX37L which is the newer updated replacement model for the L37. It has a higher contrast ratio, and two HDMI's - and is the same price!! $549.00 (also refurbished - but carrys a 90 day warranty) I was so ready to go with the Astar - until I saw the new Vizio!! going to place my order tomorrow for it. I will let you all know how it goes.

Thanks all!

[zzyzzx]

Personally, I'd avoid anything refurbished.

[Nelson37]

I would equate "refurbished" to buying something at a garage sale where the guy says "yea, it still works, or at least it did last time we used it".

ReFurbished means that somebody else bought it, and sent it back With A Defect, this is not a simple return. Somebody, somewhere, looks at it, may or may not replace a part or make an adjustment, and this individual makes a judgement that the unit is in reasonable working order. If you are under the impression that this person is necessarily skilled or trained in any way, or that he actually works for the manufacturer, you may very well be in for an unpleasant surprise.

Cables and accessories including manuals may, or may not, be included. Packaging and shipping may, or may not, be up to original factory standards. Warranty is usually no longer than 90 days, and often more limited than original. Standard return and replacement policies with the direct seller often do not not apply. The possibility that the unit is no longer manufactered is significantly increased.

For many companies, Refurbished is what we used to call "pulls", and untested ones, at that.

And another thing. When exactly is this thing "Furbished" in the first place, so that it can now be "Furbished" again? How do you "Furbish" something? I have never seen a Furbish plant nor met anyone who Furbishes. There is apparently some actual, real, legalistic difference between an item that has had the Furbish process applied to it for a second time, and something that has been Re-Manufactured.

For me, Refurbished better be way under half price, and for a long lifetime, over $500 item where quality is a concern, IMO just say no.

[TBoneit]

Refurbished by who is a big question.

Factory refurbished sounds impressive doesn't it.
So I take my fictional garage and set up my business with it for the adress. I take Joe Schmoe Retailers Returns, I grab my hammer and pliers and I work on them. I then put them in the box, Slap that factory refurbished sticker on it and sell it off. It is a true factory refurb since my garage is my factory.

BTW I do not do the above, it is an example of what factory refurb can mean. OTOH if I buy a HP and it says HP factory Refurb then that is a different thing.

With regard to LCDs the amount of allowable dead or stuck pixels before it can be called bad has no standard beyond what the warranty provides for. Dead being somewhat less obvious than stuck on video sources.