Vizio E550VA Review: 55” LCD HDTV

Up for Review: Vizio E550VA LCD TV. After the hype over the 3D and Internet access technologies is over, it is time now to take a look at the more basic models which are what the average TV viewer will be interested in. This huge 55-inch offering from Vizio does not boast of any eye-catching features but has all the regular ones that most HDTV manufacturers have introduced this year in this range. The size is the main attraction of this set and it would certainly be an asset to admire in your living room. The screen is enclosed within a sleek black bezel which has another black border running along the bottom edge which has some of the basic controls. There is nothing unique about the neck or the stand though.

Vizio has made sure that there is no compromise with the picture quality and has included both 1080p display resolution and 50,000:1 contrast ratio. The 1080p resolution is of course, the best in the business and it really adds an instant appeal to the images. The true value of having this resolution is realized when you watch movies on the Blu-ray disc player. The contrast ratio has been reduced from the VL series but is enough to get very good black levels. The range of shades that you get in the images makes the scenes very natural. You can distinguish easily between the varying shades of black and white.

Vizio E550VL Features and Specifications Review:

• 55″ LCD panel
• 1920 x 1080 resolution
• Dynamic contrast ratio: 50,000:1
• Response time: 5ms
• Refresh rate: 120Hz
• Inputs: 4 HDMI, 1 component, 1 composite, 1 RGB PC, 1 USB
• Built-in ambient lighting sensor
• Direct USB photo viewing
• Energy Star 4.0 compliant

Vizio has chosen to integrate this set with 120 Hz refresh rate which is very good for watching action scenes. The images are refreshed much faster than in most of the standard TVs which makes it a pleasure to watch any sporting event. You can follow the movement of the ball without noticing any blurring in the images. And once the games are over for the day, you can switch over to watching movies on the Blu-ray disc player or play games on the gaming console. There are 4 HDMI to help you do this. The Direct USB Photo Viewing feature allows you to connect your digital camera and view your photos directly on the large 55-inch screen.

Since energy conservation has become a major concern for most HDTV manufacturers, Vizio has also kept up with the flow and has designed this set to satisfy the Energy Star 4.0 requirements. The energy consumed is much lower than the sets produced last year. Many features have also been provided in the TV which provide just the right kind of ambiance in the room and also keep the energy consumption low. The built-in ambient light sensor makes sure that the brightness of the TV is in keeping with the lighting in the room. This also provides a soothing effect to your eyes. If you want a good looking and huge HDTV in your home and have no interest in the high-end features, then this is just the TV for you.

YouReviewElectronics.com gives Vizio E550VL 4/5 stars!