Vizio VOJ320F1A 32" LCD TV

After using a Toshiba 27" tube type TV for the last 13 years, my friends and relatives finally shamed me into getting a flat panel HDTV to replace it. I did much research into the numerous 32” flat panel sets available on the market as far as performance, reliability, features and price. I settled on the Vizio VO32L LCDFHDTV which I purchased at Costco for $549.99. I saw it slightly cheaper at some online sites, but I decided on Costco because of their 90-day return policy and the extra 1-year manufacturer’s warranty that they provide for all Vizio sets purchased at Costco.

This is a handsome looking flat panel with black frame and stand and it can be wall hung if desired. Setting up was a snap. Just plug it in and connect with a HDMI cable which is included in the box. The menu was fairly intuitive after using it a few times, but I would suggest consulting the owner’s guide initially. The guide is very easy to follow and there are numerous tweaks and settings that can be made to get the picture and sound that you like. It took me about 1 hour to browse through all the settings to get the setup just the way I wanted. The remote is small and fairly uncomplicated to use and there are volume, channel,  power, input and menu buttons on the side. One of the nicer features of this TV is that it comes with 3 HDMI ports. Connecting other components with HDMI is the best way to go for best picture & sound and it eliminates many other wires.

This Vizio model supports all signals including 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i and most importantly 1080p. I have a blu-ray DVD player that supports 1080p and with this TV I can watch blu-ray videos at their ultimate display. Watching a blu-ray video on this set is remarkable with the sharpest and clearest picture I have ever seen. The contrast ratio is 1,300:1 and the display resolution is 1920x1080 pixels. This is just about the highest resolution you can get in a flat panel. When shopping for a Vizio, make sure you check that it has these specs because Vizio makes many similar LCDs with lower resolutions.

Many flat panels that have pretty good picture displays have awful sound. That is not the case with the Vizio. The sound comes from 2 front mounted speakers and it is not tinny at all. Of course it is not as good as home theater sound but exceptional for a flat panel. I intend to improve the sound even more with a soundbar which I have ordered from Boston Acoustics. I will review this item after using it a while.

There several better flat panels on the market in the 32” size but most of them are priced hundreds more than the Vizio. This is really a best buy for the money and unless you are a real fanatic about perfection, this is the set to buy.  It even has PIP (picture in picture), but you would need to install a splitter if you are using a DVR, such as TIVO. I had occasion to call for Vizio support a couple of times when setting up and they answered the phone promptly and were very helpful. One of those times was to get help in the PIP configuration.

The viewing angles are very good. You would have to step away at a big angle to the screen to lose the picture. The stand is sturdy and unobtrusive, but it does not swivel or tilt the TV. Some LCD stands allow this.

The following are some specs that are on the Vizio website:

Specification
Size: 32-in*
*Viewable: 31.51-in
Tuner: Integrated NTSC/ATSC/QAM HDTV Tuner

Supported TV Formats
1080p

Native Panel Resolution: 1920 x 1080
Supported PC Resolutions
640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1920x1080

Specification
Panel Type: 32" Diagonal*, 16:9 Wide Screen, Color TFT Active Matrix LCD
Panel Specifications: Anti-Static and hard coated surface
Pixel/Dot Pitch: 0.36375mm (H) x 0.36375mm (V)
Display Compatibility: HDTV (1080p)
Signal Compatibility: Supports 480i (SDTV), 480P (EDTV), 720P (HDTV), 1080i (HDTV), 1080p Video Signals
Response Time: 6.5ms
Colors: 16.7 million
Brightness: 480 cd/m2 (typical)
Contrast Ratio: 1300:1 (Typical), 6500:1 (w/DCR)
Viewable Angle: 178° (horizontal and vertical)

Inputs
RF (F Connector for internal tuner): 1
HDMI with HDCP: 3
Analog Stereo Audio for HDMI Inputs: 1
Component YPbPr plus Stereo Audio: 2
Composite Video: 2
S-Video plus Stereo Audio: 1
Computer RGB plus Stereo Audio: 1
Service Port: 1

Outputs
Analog Audio out (RCA): 1
5.1 SPDIF Digital Optical Audio: 1
Headphone (Stereo Mini-Jack): 1

Additional Information
Picture-in-Picture (PIP)
Picture-outside-Picture (POP)
V-Chip
3D Comb Filter
3:2 or 2:2 Reverse Pull-down
ATSC with 8VSB & QAM demodulation
ATSC with MPEG-2 decoding
NTSC Video decoding via RF: Yes, thru Antenna, Cable, or Satellite
NTSC Video decoding via Video: Yes, thru CVBS, S-Video, or Component
Progressive Scan Video: Yes, thru Component YPbPr, VGA or HDMI
HDTV: Yes, thru HDMI or Component YPbPr
Computer: 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1920x1080 via VGA and HDMI
Sound enhancement: SRS TruSurround XT™
Color Temperature: 6500K (standard), 5400K and 9300K
Color Fine Tuning: Independent Red, Green and Blue
Audio: Built-in 2 x 12W Speakers
Lamp (LCD) / Panel (PDP) Life: 50000 hours
Power: IEC Connector for direct power line connection
Voltage Range120Vac at 50/60 Hz
Power Consumption: 180W average
Removable Base: Yes

VIZIO Warranty
One Year Parts & Labor
Free Lifetime Technical Support
Free On-Site Repair on VIZIO Televisions 30" and above
Zero Bright Pixel Defects Guaranteed: Yes
Click for details of warranty:

Weight
Gross: 35.3 lbs
Net: 27.6 lbs
Without Stand: 26.1 lbs

Dimensions
Carton: 35.3" x 27.2" x 11.1"
With Stand: 31.6" W x 22.4" H x 8.6" D
Without Stand: 31.6" W x 21.2" H x 4.2" D
Without Stand and Speakers: N/A
Certifications: CSA CSA-US, FCC Class B, BETS-7
ENERGY STAR Qualified 

Wall Mounting Specifications:
Hole Pattern mm x mm
Screw Size
Screw Length mm
Screw Pitch mm