Home > Consumer Reviews > JVC AV-48WP30 I'Art Pro 48-Inch Widescreen HDTV-Ready Rear-Projection TV , Silver

I've recently purchased this rear projection television and I'm very impressed to say the least. I've owned a Samsung 40 rear projection prior to this, which was also a very good TV, but nothing compared to this JVC bad boy. Some nice features include a DVI jack for future (some present) digital connections, a center channel input (although I've tried it and the sound is less than acceptable, perhaps its my receiver), numerous multiscreen displays including dual tuning for split screen, and most importantly exceptional picture quality. I believe it's the internal line doubler that creates such sharp pictures, or so they say. The clarity is really astounding for a projection TV, and what's more, the clarity is not limited to HDTV broadcasts, but the picture on regular cable is amazing as well. Let's face it, most of us do not spend most of our TV viewing time having access to HDTV broadcasts and receivers. Albeit a fortunate handful, but for the rest of us this television has excellent picture quality across the board. I highly suggest watching the Monsters Inc. dvd with a player using component connections. The clarity is breathtaking, many picutres truly appear to be 3 dimensional. But instead of relying solely on reviews, go out to your local electronics store, and take a look for yourself at this television against other manufacturers. And don't listen to large chain store electronics sales employees, they don't know what they're talking about. Happy shopping!

Just got it on Saturday July 13, 2002.
The picture is amazing. The only downfall is, to have that amazing picture, you have to watch DVD's. I have BEV as a satellite supplier. Most of the channels are clear, except for some, it seems the picture is too big for the channel.
Now, I've upgrade from a 10 year old JVC 27" (Best TV I've ever had). The picture just looks huge, I'm sitting approx. 11 feet away. The ideal viewing distance is suppose to be 9.5 feet.It's just so huge. Now, that may just be because I upgraded from a lot smaller to a lot bigger TV.
I've watched approx. 10 movies on it, and WOW, I would never be able to watch them on anything else (unless it's bigger).
Other little tidbits, is that when the movie is in letterbox (2.35:1), you still have the black lines on the top and the bottom. You can zoom in even more, but then you lose some of the picture. (my wife is very disapointed with this).
To use the full screen when you are watching a 4:3 tv show or movie, the picture seems a little bit stretched, just takes a little of getting use too.
If you are watching the TV from angles greater than 30 to 40 degrees, you really can't see very much.
Besides what I've mentioned, it is a great TV for a great price, and a big plus, you can use the speakers for the Center channel of your receiver.
I've also played my PS2 and XBox on it, it just blows your mind how detailed the games are now.
I'm also having a technician coming in to make all the fine tuning on the TV (I don't want to lose the warranty, if I do it myself). So I will let you know if it makes it even better.
I would give this TV a four and a half star, it lost its half a star because of the things I've mentioned above. And that is an assesment based on three days of having it. Give me a year, and I'll let you know if it has improved.

...For me, this TV is everything I want and more. Great picture? Check. Spend a little time learning how to calibrate it or buy the excellent AVIA disc from Amazon. Great sound? Check. It would sound better connected to surround sound, but it does a pretty good job in my living room? Easy connections? Check. About a million of them, including component video, connections in front for video camera or games, and the (boo hiss) DVI - the latest copy protection [stuff]. But if there is copy protection [stuff] coming, you'd better have it. The TV looks great in any room - not cheap particle board like many. Good remote. Easy to set up. I have nothing bad to say about the JVC ... so if this is what you're looking for, easy and good, you've found it.

A beautiful machine, we spent days doing our research and decided on this model. The size is perfect, the picture is outstanding. The only drawback is the gaurd does give off some glare. We stood back and watched the customers go by it, to see what the reaction to this model would be, they stopped everytime to watch this model in action!
Watching DVD's is a whole new experience and an exciting one!

I just bought one of these used. It is my first HDTV (not counting watching HD TV through my computer.)

As these reviews are almost all from when the TV was new, I figured I would write a review from the current perspective.

First, the downsides:
It only handles 1080i, not 1080p. Plenty for everything I've thrown at it; but those who have Blu-ray may want a 'real' 1080p TV.
It has two 1080i-compatible component connections, and one DVI. No HDMI; although the DVI port works just fine connected to my HDMI-output HD DVD player via an HDMI to DVI cable.
It has dual (now obsolete) NTSC tuners, but no digital ATSC tuner. Therefore, the tuner is essentially useless.
The picture-in-picture can handle two HD inputs, but it can be a little flaky.
It is a rear-projection TV, which means that it has a rather limited viewing angle. The picture looks great as long as your eyes are level with the top of the screen or lower, but playing Wii games that require standing up on it are difficult, because the picture dims very quickly when viewed from above. Likewise, the sideways viewing angle is about 90° to be at full brightness. It drops off quickly thereafter.

Now, the upsides:
Finding one used can be cheap. Potentially significantly cheaper than a new HDTV.
The CRT-based projection system means that it doesn't have a high-power light bulb to burn out. The one I bought is now six years old; and the picture is very bright. (when viewed from proper angles.)
In spite of the admonitions that the DVI port isn't computer-compatible, it works perfectly with my MacBook Pro. It supports 720p, or 1080i; with excellent picture reproduction.
But, the DVI port does not have sound, so even through an HDMI adapter, you still have to use analog stereo audio (or use a receiver.)
The picture looks wonderful, wether from an ATSC tuner (in a VCR/DVD Recorder, connected via component,) HD DVD, computer, or Wii.
The sound, while only stereo with faked surround, is good. I have found no need to re-connect my receiver. Good volume, good tone, and enough bass.