JVC LT-42X579 42-Inch LCD HDTV

The JVC LT-42X579 42-Inch LCD HDTV is one of JVC’s new line of mid-range LCD’s. As described, it is only a mid-range set that won’t give you everything that you want, only enough to satisfy your needs for a home entertainment system. Having said that, let me clarify that the LT-42X579 is not a stripped down version of most JVC sets. In fact, it performs quite well specially with HD content.

First, let’s take a look at this television’s physical appearance. The LT-42X579 basically has an uninspiring and unexciting form that most TV’s now have. It is the same old black box framed with a one and a quarter inch shiny piano black bezel. This is then surrounded by a quarter inch matte black border that is offset back about a half inch. Looking from the side, the profile is further enhanced by a third texture, the grainier dark gray back enclosure.

Below the silver JVC logo, you can find the built-in 10W speakers. On the lower left corner, above the blue Energy Star stamp, the Power Indicator light shines blue when the TV is on. The TV weighs in at about 56 pounds when it’s attached to its foot deep, non-swivel stand.

As for connection options, the left edge, you can find the Control buttons and a USB port. On the back, conveniently facing out, the connection panel provides two Component (YpbPr) inputs with matching stereo Audio Ins, two Composite (with Audio), one S-Video (with Audio), a stereo pair of analog Audio Ins (that augment an HDMI in), an SPDIF (optical) digital Audio Out, and a stereo pair of analog Audio Outs.

Below this panel and inconveniently facing down is a strip with three HDMI w/HDCP inputs and an RF connector, which links to the internal NTSC/ATSC/QAM tuner.

The USB port allows users to connect a digital camera or flash drives filled with jpeg photos. This allows the TV to act as a huge digital picture frame.

You might think that the set has most of the features in a standard LCD television. But you are wrong. The LT-42X579 does lack some features that some users might deem important. First, it doesn’t have a VGA port for connecting to a PC. This means that JVC didn’t mean for this set to be used as a computer monitor, although if your computer’s video card had an S-Video or DVI/HDMI out, then you can probably make that work. Another thing that is missing is an ethernet port that allows you to connect your television to your home computer network or the Internet.

So as you can see, there are some things that are missing. So now, let’s go straight to its performance.

The LT-42X579 actually surprises those people who would underestimate this set. Pictures come out sharp. Some might even find it too sharp, but again, that depends on ones preference. The set does fail on some aspects. Example are dark scenes where you can see a lot of artifacts produced by the TV. This becomes even more evident when you are watching standard definition programs.

As for its color, the LT-42X579 does produce very rich colors. Reds retain a depth that is not often attained, which makes them seem surreal sometimes. But again, there are some that could find it too rich that they would want to adjust some of its color settings. The Contrast capability of this HDTV is very good, though it does exhibit the occasional tendency to crush the darker grays to black. And as you sit farther off angle, the picture begins to wash out. As with many LCDs, you should perch within a 45 degree viewing angle.

Finally, the integrated pair of bass-reflex oblique cone speakers will probably surprise everyone with their capacity to handle high volumes with undistorted aplomb. The five-band graphic equalizer presets do produce distinct sound qualities.

Sources:
http://www.retrevo.com
http://yahoo-ssp-cnet.com
http://www.pricescan.com