JVC LT-42X688 42-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
See it at Amazon.com for $1,999.99Average Customer Rating
(5.0 out of 5)
Amazon Customer Reviews
Most Helpful First | Newest First (5 out of 5)Great picture and price for an LCD!!!
We bought this LCD TV at Sam's Club for $1193.00. (At Sam's the model number is slightly different LT-42XM48, but it is the same TV. They do this so stores don't have to price match with club stores, etc.) We looked at many sets to determine video quality and this one was the best. Even when viewing from the sides, which is the LCD TVs biggest weakness, this set has a sharp/bright image. Of course as with most HDTVs, the image looks best when the source is either a HD signal, or a progressive DVD. But even analog (non-HDTV) stations are clear with just the normal garbage associated with analog TV signals. I also did quite a bit of research as to screen size, brands, etc. This has a 42" image size and we sit approx. 10' from the screen. Many site try and say that a set as large as 55" is needed if you sit 10' to 12' from the screen, I think it is up to personal choice, space available, and dollars to spend. As for us, this picture is plenty big, with clear sharp images while watching DVD, HD signals, and even non-HDTV.
I would recommend this HDTV to anyone looking to upgrade from a smaller LCD/Plasma, or as a first step into HDTV!
(5 out of 5)JVC 1080P 42WX688
I picked up this 42" LCD HDTV from Sams club, under a different model number, and have been excited by it's performance for the entire 3 months I have owned it. HD pictures are rich and vibrant as to be expected. Standard resolution looks good, but it is important to understand that the image quality is only as good as the source. Some non-hd digital channels look awesome, near HD quality in overall appearance. I am consistenly stunned. However, when a non-hd channel source material sucks, this TV really lets you know it; faithfully reproducing every bit of that crappy signal you are receiving.
Some intersting features about this set are:
--It upconverts all inputs to 1080P.
--The remote actually has dedicated buttons for source input selection...no more cycling through menus until you reach the input you want.
--Built in speakers are actually very good.
-I prefer a surround sound typically, but the sound from this set is above average and my family and I often find ourselves using only the TV speakers for normal everyday use. This TV recreates virtual surround sound very well.
I also own a 47" Philips 1080P LCd (from Sam's Club) and a 37" sony Bravia LCD from BB. Of all three Tv's the JVC performs the best at 1080P/I for movies over HDMI. The Phillips handles the xbo360 the best with 1080P over compnent. I am really dissapointed in the sony. I previously had an Aquos that developed banding issues and replaced it with a Bravia. If I could, I'd return the Bravia and get another JVC.
Bottom line, I forked over twice as much for the Sony and a Sharp Aquos from big-name electronics stores and I have been happier overall with the performance and price point of both my sam's club Phillips and JVC.
I have been around home theater for a while and have roots back to RGB projection (think Ampro and Barco) and I must say that the JVC is an excellent buy. Just remember, if you are reading this as you are looking for your first set, be aware that your display usually doesn't get much better than your source signal. With that in mind, know that LCDs are less forgiving in this regard but perform better, use less power, and run cooler in every other regard.
(5 out of 5)Has all the Options and quality a $1400 Set has. Case Closed.
Im a research nut when it comes to buying new electronics. Like you, I check reviews, searched for every picture of the set I could find, posted questions about the set on forums and did the same with all 42inch sets under $1500.
I made the plunge and purchased this set saving myself $500. It finally arrived, in one piece. First thing I noticed was how beautiful the set looked without it even being on! It's simple, black frame with Blue LED made the set very classy and modern looking. something I would hang on my wall and be proud of. I could not be happier with the design.
Once the set warmed to room temp. I turned it on, it has a v-chip inside which among other things goes through a demo of the TV's features and displays this in full 1080p so right off the bat, automatically the TV showed me what it could do. AMAZING!!!! I have never seen a picture so bright and brilliant in color, I couldn't wait to hook it up to a blu-ray dvd player but I have to wait on that.
Next thing I did was test the digital tuner. I connected my Coaxial cable right from the wall into the back of the TV. it took a few minutes to find all the channels (auto program). The first channel I selected was a NON HD channel. The picture quality of regular broadcasts on any LCD stink, this particular set handled it VERY well for it's price tag, more so than some bigger name brand $1400 sets i've seen on display at stores. it is more than barable.
Next was an HD channel. The picture was amazing. It lit up the entire room. I liked the picture adjustment options it had, some more expensive sets didn't have these features but this set allowed me to tweak away! I was not impressed with the auto color feature. This basically auto-tweaks the picture depending on the channel your on. I turned this off.
Some other features this TV has which compete with much more expensive 42inch sets are the two HDMI inputs, an optical audio output, a USB input (put pictures on a USB memory stick and the TV will automatically play a moving slide show of them), 1080p max resolution, and a universal remote which you can program for your surround sound system, DVD/VCR etc.
Lets talk about design for a minute. JVC did a good job with this keeping all connections in the back of the TV (instead of the side which some companies do...and I cant understand why if the set may be mounted flat on a wall...it defeats the purpose). There is a channel in the back to route wires so you can mount the TV as flush to the wall as the bracket you buy allows you to. Other TVs have the inputs flush with the back of the tv. this means the tv must sit away from the wall to allow room for the plugs. JVC thought of this and provided a solution. Thumbs up.
Overall I need to ask if this TV was $1,099 with free shipping what makes a $1400 TV $1400? An extra HDMI input? the name "Sony"? certainly its not the quality or build. Also this tv is NOT 120hz, but do you really need the TV to up convert your frame rate? and have you seen 120hz in action yet? if not I suggest you go and see a 120hz tv before setting your heart getting a TV that is 120hz capable..I personally disliked the picture on the 120hz tv's i researched, it looked very processed.
(4 out of 5)Great TV--but can it make regular TV look near HDTV quality? NO...
JVC makes GREAT products, plain and simple. We purchased our JVC 42 LCD HDTV about 2 weeks ago and for some odd reason, and I don't know why I hadn't read about this before and why it came as a surprise to me, but when you watch regular television on an HDTV monitor, the picture quality comes out less than perfect...in fact it comes out dang-near blurry. The so-called technology that makes regular TV *look* almost HDTV quality...? Now THAT is a joke.
If you buy this TV to view Blu Ray and/or HD DVD's or HD quality programming, you will be THRILLED I assure you. The quality is absolutely wonderful and I find it hard to believe picture quality better than this is commercially available (at least as I write this...) but again, if you plan to watch regular television and/or DVD's/Video's that are NOT High Def quality, BE PREPARED to be a little disappointed (if not a LOT).
Keep that in mind before you buy and you won't be surprised like I was. Hope my review helps.
(5 out of 5)Very happy with this TV
Provided that you don't over pay for this tv, you will love it. Not to say that the JVC 42x688 is inferior to the big name sets, it most certainly is not. The high def picture on this set is incredible, with deep colors not to be found on the bargain hd tv's and it also does pretty well with regular broadcasting. The design of this tv (hdmi ports, motion speed, remote functions, speakers, etc.) is also excellent and appeared to me to be the best compromise of price vs. function. With the price I found through Amazon, this was the best tv out there for the buck. The prices for hd tv's however can fluctuate weekly, by hundreds of dollars in some cases. But since you are looking here, you are on the right track.
Like others who have reviewed this tv, I tried to do a little homework about the nuts and bolts of hd tv's so I could get the most for my money. I found what I thought to be very good information in Consumer Reports about what to consider when buying an hd tv.
Armed with that information, I began to window shop at the major stores; Best Buy, Circuit City, etc. It was then that I discovered the prices for hd tv's can go up and down weekly by large amounts, as well as seeing a difference between an in-store price and the same store's dot-com price. Eventually I looked on Amazon and found this tv for a price in the normal range of 37"-40" 720p tv. Even though a chain store advertised this tv as an internet special only, the local store had them in stock, so I was able to see the tv up close and compare it to others. I found this tv compares with any on the market and the price on Amazon blew away the chain store's price by hundreds.
My only concern of course was making this large of a purchase over the internet. The seller in my case was Electronic Express. Because everything went smoothly; the tv arrived by Fed-Ex and was well treated, brand new and in the unopened factory box (as advertised it would by Electronic Express), I can't attest to how they handle complaints or problems should there be any. I can only tell you that I saved $$$ buying this tv on Amazon and was completely satisfied.
The closest thing I have to a complaint is this. I found the owner's manual a bit challenging when combined with trying to figure out my new home theatre in a box (samsung)and digital cable from Time Warner at the same time. However, when I called the JVC customer service number they were most helpful, with no apparent language barriers to further complicate matters. Good luck!