Vizio intros two 42-inch LCD HDTVs - L42 & GV42L

America's favorite warehouse-club-brand of televisions is back with two more sets that, as expected, have impressively low price points and decent specs to boot. V Incorporated has took the wraps off a new pair of Vizio 42-inch LCD HDTVs that will presumably only be available to those who can produce a membership card at the front entrance of a Sam's Club or Costco. Gaining fame for offering up somewhat comparable (albeit much less expensive) alternatives to more recognizable brands like Sony and Samsung, Vizio is dropping its GV42 -- which sports a 1,366 x 768 resolution, 1,600:1 contrast ratio, and a 8ms response time -- for a below-average $1,599.99, but only at Costco. The L42, available in Sam's Club, is remarkably similar to its slightly more advanced sibling, but had its corners cut by getting just an 800:1 contrast ratio and a $1,499.99 pricetag. Both of these units come bundled with table stands, and while details concerning the assortment of inputs are MIA, these should handle all your 1080i-and-below needs with ease. Although Vizio isn't the most glamorous name in the industry, its products have historically offered fairly good bang for the buck, and these look to be solid offerings for those who haven't quite mustered up the coin for those wallet-wrenching 1080p sets.

[Via HD Beat]

[onlydarksets @ Aug 16th 2006 8:52AM]

Yawn...there's a 23-page thread at AVS Forums on this. Hardly "news". Had this been posted 2 weeks ago, when Costco had a $300 off coupon on the TV (making it $1299), now THAT would have been news!

[jalapeno @ Aug 16th 2006 9:17AM]

Thanks for the heads up Engadget. I don't have time to read 23 pages over at the AVS Forum.

[Mark @ Aug 16th 2006 9:35AM]

Ahh...you beat me to the punch about the coupon 'onlydarksets' :(

[Christian Fredrickson @ Aug 16th 2006 9:48AM]

I just bought one of these. GREAT tv for the price.

The Vinc the maker of Visio Tvs has all the specs and inputs fully listed. Check the link.

http://www.vinc.com/site/products/product_gv42l.html

Inputs here:
1x Co-axial RF (ATSC/QAM/NTSC
2x HDMI** with HDCP (1 with StereoAudio RCA)
2x Component YPbPr plus Stereo Audio
1x RGB PC plus Stereo Audio
1x S-Video plus Stereo Audio (shared in AV2)
2x Composite Video plus StereoAudio (AV1 & AV2)

I got mine on Friday and played with it all weekend. Works great as a computer monitor.

The discription listed in this article is just a press relaese with no real specs

[MDB @ Aug 16th 2006 9:53AM]

For this price, you might as well invest in a Westinghouse LVM-42W2, as reviewed at audioholics.com. For only $100-200 more, you get full 1080p and probably a much better picture. Westinghouse sets are pretty well regarded by videophiles.

[MikeV @ Aug 16th 2006 10:43AM]

I was fortunate enough to have my local Costco run out of the TV while it was on coupon, so now I have a raincheck good for 30 days. :) I was surprised to not have seen any mention of these TV's here before or during the coupon... but I think I'll definitely be taking advantage of the offer.

[SEP @ Aug 16th 2006 11:40AM]

I'm with MDB on this one. Pay the extra 200 bucks (assuming you missed the coupon) and pick up the Westy. Got mine a week ago and it's very, very good. 1080p at that price? Can't go wrong.

[Jason @ Aug 16th 2006 3:52PM]

I think these are already at the Shoreline Costco in Seattle. There was a 32" for $799 and 37" for $999

[Saint @ Aug 16th 2006 4:09PM]

Sam's Club has the 42" in my area for $1,299.

[Perrey Z. @ Aug 16th 2006 4:26PM]

I just saw this HDTV yesterday. It's very attractive, even better than their 42" plasma Model# P42HDTV thanks to the Gloss Jet Black mask and metal-like bottom center where the speakers meet. At first i had the impression the stand swivels but it doesn't. Still a nice HDTV for it's price.

[Perrey Z. @ Aug 16th 2006 4:26PM]

I just saw this HDTV yesterday. It's very attractive, even better than their 42" plasma Model# P42HDTV thanks to the Gloss Jet Black mask and metal-like bottom center where the speakers meet. At first i had the impression the stand swivels but it doesn't. Still a nice HDTV for it's price.

[GhostDoggy @ Aug 19th 2006 8:36AM]

MDB, what retailer is selling the Westinghouse 42" 1080P unit for $1400? I know Best Buy carried the 37" unit, but is was no where near $1300. I would be interested in the $1300 plus $100-200 that you are suggesting if it could be had locally. I am in Atlanta. What retailer is selling that 42" 1080P Westinghouse for $1400-1500?

[GhostDoggy @ Aug 19th 2006 8:41AM]

Best But wants $1800 ($500 more) for the Westinghouse 42" 1080P LCD. That is a far, far cry from the $100-200 being suggested in this thread. Heck, I could spend the $1800 and get the Vizio GV42L and a Toshiba HD DVD and pocket $20 for beer while playing movies. lol

[Mike Baumstark @ Aug 26th 2006 8:00PM]

I bought a VIZIO Gallevia GV42LHDTV recently, and there are creaks and clicking/ticking noises coming from the back of the unit. Vizio tech support said the noises are considered a normal behavior of the panel due to physical material expands when warming up and shrinks when cooling off. Is that true? Or do I have a defective unit?

[John S @ Sep 13th 2006 4:02PM]

The popping or cracking noise is not normal. I actually returned mine for another brand new one at Costco.
The recent one I got probably is a new shipment for I did not have the cracking issues anymore. QC probably was able to make some changes.