Great Value, Picture Quality, and Ease of Use
Written: Oct 31 '06 (Updated Jul 31 '09)
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Pros: Picture quality, price, design features, easy-to-follow instructions, well-designed menus, sound quality, lightweight, easy setup.
Cons: Remote is not back-lit.
The Bottom Line: Good value and an above-average way to enter the Hi-Def arena. After researching and purchasing this product, I would recommend it, but make sure you get the extended warranty.
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| ricardo719's Full Review: Westinghouse Electric LTV-32w6 HD 32 in. TV |
This is my first venture into Hi-Def television, coming from a 27" RCA CRT stereo monitor/television. I researched many different brands and models. Wanting the most "bang for my buck," and seeing numerous comments praising the Westinghouse LCD elsewhere, I chose the LTV-32W6. Best Buy had the most competitive price, and an "open box" special earned me a 10% gift card as well. Out the door, tax included, was $751.79. Getting this home was a breeze, it's very lightweight, and the box fit into the trunk of my Cadillac SLS 4-door sedan (which doesn't have a huge trunk) perfectly. Unpacking the unit was a breeze, and setup was as easy as 1-2-3, following the "quick start" card instructions. Westinghouse's "SpineDesign" setup on the back of the set for all the A/V and power connections, etc., offers well-marked, easy access for everything. Mind you, I am still on analog cable, but the beauty, brilliance, and sharpness of the analog picture is breathtaking. Some channels were subpar, but that is a result of varying-quality analog signals, not the set. I can't wait to see it on HD cable in the near future. The menus are easy to navigate from the remote, which is beautifully designed and laid out. After setting it up, I had a couple of technical questions and called Westinghouse customer service. They were extremely professional and very helpful. The sound quality from this television, once the bass and treble settings were bumped up to my preferences, is wonderful! The stereo effect is obvious and exceptional. There is also a nice array of settings which can be personalized, from contrast, sharpness, brightness, color saturation, backlight level, and picture "temperature," which has three presets, and also an individualized menu where different levels can be selected manually. While this isn't high-end Hi-Def, it's definitely a great upgrade from analog CRT, and an exceptional value for the price.
Update (11-06): Previously I had given a "con" as widescreen films don't show full-screen on this set. When I got into the settings for my DVD upconverter, and found the display settings and changed it to 16x9, I got full-screen picture. Adding an HDMI cable gives me a high-definition picture and it's absolutely brilliant.
Update (07-09): The picture began "digitizing" when the TV was first turned on, and would take anywhere from 5-15 minutes to "warm up" and give me a picture. Best Buy sent the "Geek Squad" out to replace the power supply. The next day, the picture was digitized again. Another service call was arranged to replace the central processor. They called again to say they couldn't get the part and I should bring the TV in for exchange. I'm sure glad I got the extended warranty. The repairman said that these TVs aren't designed to last more than 2-3 years. I don't know if he means just Westinghouse, or all LCDs, but I'll be sure to get another warranty on the new set!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 751.79
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Epinions.com ID:
ricardo719
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Reviews written: 7
Trusted by: 1 member
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