Envision Offers Top Quality HDTV with Big Features at Great Price Savings
Written: Feb 17 '08 (Updated Aug 25 '09)
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Pros: Price, price, price. Picture quality and input flexibility beats many higher end TVs.
Cons: User manual offers limited information and no contact numbers (web site is good).
The Bottom Line: The Envision L32W461 and L32W761 models offer economical HDTV with high-end features as well as over-the-air reception capability; a great bargain!
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| DGodesky's Full Review: AOC Envision L32W461 32 in. HDTV LCD TV |
Update: Memorial Day weekend, 2008, several big box stores are again selling this TV for $500. We continue to be very pleased. We also noticed a significant increase in picture quality; our non-high deff picture quality, for whatever reason, improved after the on-air change from analog to digital - what doesn't make sense is that we have Verizon FIOS "cable" so that should not have made any difference; maybe the signal that FIOS transmits became "cleaner" on their end. Now in mid-2009, we continue to see this model in its updated form selling for great prices, e.g., recently $399.
The 2007 model LCD AOC Envision L32W461 and its all black 2008 model L32W761 deliver well-contrasted, accurate colors and best of all, this TV can be used without cable or even as a computer monitor right out of the box! A laptop and a wireless keyboard/mouse turn the TV into a 32" monitor with a great picture.
If you do not know this company, it is known for it's computer monitors and was ranked 16 of the top 100 electronic companies in the world in 2006. We own the 2007 and the 2008 models, we love them so much, especially for the discounted pricing that you should be able to find.
This LCD TV will give you features and performance comparable to sets costing at least 20% to 50% more. Best of all, in November 2007, the L32W461 was selling for under $500 while now in February 2008, Staples is discounting the all black 2008 model L32W761, marked down from list price $900 for just $500.
These TVs include built in over-the-air antenna tuners (NTSC/ATSC tuners with Clear QAM for high definition signal reception), a feature usually found only in high-end brands/models. Do you live in or near a major metropolitan area where television stations broadcast over the air? If yes, then this unit is an extra special bargain for you. With the built in tuner, at no extra cost you can hook this unit directly to an antenna (either HD or the typical roof top style which you can mount in your attic), and get free over-the-air high definition reception. In case you don’t know the best kept HD secret, the best quality HD reception is from an over the air antenna, which has been documented to beat cable, FIOS, and satellite high definition signals. Why? Because signals from cable, FIOS, and other vendors are electronically cut back to enable the companies to pack more programming into their signal (all those hundreds of channels), while an over-the-air signal is full and pure, uncut and thus proves you with the most digital information possible, which equals the best HD picture possible.
The AOC Envision L32W461 offers 16:9 format necessary for wide format DVDs and high definition programming. Since this TV supports progressive scan video, you probably will want to have a progressive scan DVD player connected to it. This will produce a relatively more "flicker-free" picture, compared to what is produced with conventional DVD players and TVs.
The unit offers one HDMI input, two component hook ups, a computer VGA input (WOW!), and a Digital COAX output. A great feature is that you can adjust picture settings individually per hook up. This lets you set up contrast/brightness at one level for say cable, while another setting for the DVD player, third settings for the computer if you hook it up to this TV.
The unit offers 20 watt speakers and integrated all-digital S/PDIF interface for compatibility with home theater components. With the built-in VGA support, the L32W461 doubles as a PC monitor for web-surfing at home or office, or for digital signage applications in business environments.
Set up is very easy, I had the unit out of the box and hooked up with picture in under 30 minutes. Setting up the L32W461 was a simple process that involved attaching its sturdy base stand using three thumb screws—no tools required. One caution – the user manual tells you to set the unit on its face for attaching the base; that made no sense and struck me to put the LCD panel at risk. Instead, lay the unit on its back on a couch, with the bottom facing outward; in this position, you can easily attach the base without risking damage to the LCD.
The L32W461's black bezel and frame are matte-finish while the L32W761’s are gloss black. Both have a perforated speaker grill along the bottom edge, but the older model grill is metallic-colored and the newer is all black. The L32W461 measures 23.8 by 31.9 by 9.3 inches (HWD w/base attached) but the L32W471 cuts the width back to 31.6 inches. That small cut back in width was very important to us, allowing the unit to fit in a TV cabinet that the older model could not fit in. The all black newer unit is particularly sharp when viewed in a cabinet, you see only the picture, and it seems to float in the air with the all black surrounding, you see none of the cabinet.
The on-display controls are centered along the top edge of the screen for easy, "no look" access to the power button and other basic functions on the 2007 model, and on the 2008 model they have been moved to the right side of the TV.
The only feature I have not been able to figure out is if I can set the TV to default to a particular type of input; right out of the box it defaults to composite video input, but I want it to default upon turning on to HDMI. This reveals the one major shortfall for this TV, the owner’s manual is sufficient, but not detailed. If you take away the table of contents and safety advice, you get only 10 pages of English instructions; again, sufficient to get set up and operating, but not enough to explain in total the choices you can make.
The main A/V connection on the L32W461 is located at the rear of the display, facing downward near the lower edge. The TV's HD-compatible video inputs include one HDMI connection, two component-video inputs, and a VGA input for PC use. A side-accessible input block provides composite and S-Video input with RCA-style stereo audio connections, as well as a mini-jack port for use with earphones.
The included remote control is modern design. It has a flat, rectangular face with a tapered midsection on the back that provides an effective grip. Its buttons lack a backlight or glow-in-the-dark functionality, but ample spacing and a variety of sizes and shapes gave good tactile feedback. The remote's performance from various angles and at distances out to 15 feet was responsive and flawless too. The buttons are quite small but clearly marked and overall, easy to use.
The L32W461's menu options were simple to navigate and included advanced picture-control features such as adjustable video-noise reduction, color-temperature presets, and a backlight-level adjustment. The menu disappears a bit too fast, which is frustrating, you get very little time to make a decision on the adjustments you need to make; it typically takes me three tries to move quickly enough to make my adjustments. Another frustration is that the on-screen menu is very small, about 30% of the screen, with a ghost image over the TV picture, which also makes it hard to read the menu. For the price, these frustrations are not deal breakers, just be aware.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 498
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Epinions.com ID:
DGodesky
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Location: Maryland
Reviews written: 74
Trusted by: 5 members
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