Loading ...Review of Vizio VA26L: 26” LCD HDTV
With the launch of Vizio VA26L, the High Definition clarity of another technological evolution from Vizio has arrived. Dynamic enough for any type of limited space, now you can experience the thrill of Full High definition television performance anywhere.
With its 720p and 1080i High Definition signals displaying more than 16 million colors, Vizio VA26L promises to perform with untold clarity exactly where you need it. Thanks to its 1366 x 768 resolution, now you can experience the superb picture quality from a flat panel high definition television which is only 3.7″ thin.
Vizio VA26L is equipped with a wide variety of input interfaces as well as a side input game port such as 2-HDMI inputs, component Video, RGB input for your computer and even a headphone jack to provide maximum versatility. You can enjoy high definition television experience through its Integrated ATSC/QAM/NTSC Digital television tuner. With a viewing angle of up to 160 degrees, crisp and clear picture can be easily visible from just about any side of your living room. The best thing is all these advanced features come with a modest price of around $499.99!
Vizio VA26L Features & Specifications Review
Size: 26 inch
Tuner: Integrated NTSC/ATSC/QAM HDTV Tuner
Supported TV Formats: 1080i, 720p, 480p, 480i
Native Panel Resolution: 1366 x 768
Supported PC Resolutions: 1366 x 768, 1024 x 768, 800 x 600
Specifications
Panel Type: 26″ Diagonal, 16:9 Wide Screen, Color TFT Active Matrix LCD
Pixel/Dot Pitch: 0.4215mm(H) x 0.4215mm (V)
Signal Compatibility: 480i (SDTV), 480P (EDTV), 720P (HDTV), 1080i (HDTV)
Response Time: 8 ms
Colors: 16.2 Million
Brightness: 500 cd/m2
Contrast Ratio: 2400:1(Dynamic)
Viewable Angle: 160/150 degrees (horizontal/vertical)
Inputs
RF (F Connector for internal tuner): 1
HDMI with HDCP: 2
Analog Stereo Audio for HDMI Inputs: 1
Component YPbPr plus Stereo Audio: 1
Composite Video: 2
S-Video plus Stereo Audio: 1
Computer RGB plus Stereo Audio: 1
Service Port: 1
Outputs
Analog Audio out (RCA): 0
5.1 SPDIF Digital Optical Audio: 0
Headphone (Stereo Mini-Jack): 1
Additional Information
Closed Caption (CC), V-Chip, 3D Comb Filter, 3:2 or 2:2 Reverse Pull-down, Progressive Scan Video: Yes, Computer: 640×480, 800×600, 1024×768, 1366×768 via VGA or HDMI, Sound enhancement: Yes, Color Temperature: 6500K (standard), 5400K and 9300K, Color Fine Tuning: Independent Red, Green and Blue, Audio: Built-in 5W x 2, Lamp (LCD) / Panel (PDP) Life: 60000 hours, Voltage Range 100 ~ 240 Vac at 50/60 Hz, Power Consumption: 110W average, Removable Base
Vizio Warranty
One Year Parts & Labor, Free lifetime Technical Support
Zero Bright Pixel Defects Guaranteed: no
Weight & Dimensions
Net: 19.6 lbs
Without Stand: 17.4 lbs
With Stand: 25.7″ W x 19.1″ H x 8.7″ D
Without Stand: 25.7″ W x 17.3″ H x 3.7″ D
Vizio VA26L has many similarities with Vizio group’s earlier product Vizio VW26L. However, there are some noticeable differences such as the lamp life of the VA26L is 60,000 hrs vs. 50,000 for the VW26L, the VA26L supports 16.2 million colors vs. 8 bit 16.7 million on the VW26L, with 19.6 pounds w/stand The VA26L is lighter than the VW26L (which is 24.9 pounds w/stand). This new model is less in width, but .21 inches more in depth as compared to the earlier VW26L.
The RGB input of Vizio VA26L makes for a perfect computer monitor. Moreover, now you can enjoy late night gaming and videos, all thanks to its headphone jack. This finely shaped black-bezel construction wraps around the superior technology is perfect for college dorm rooms, spare bedrooms or dens.
YouReviewElectronics.com gives Vizio VA26L 8/10 stars!
User Reviews
We have surround sound and cannot get it to work with the Vizio 26″ monitor. Any suggestions
Jim – How are you connecting it? HDMI? Component?
I purchased my set about 1 month ago at Costco for $379+ tax and its been a great set for the money . I wired my cable DVR box to it with an HDMI connection and it put out a beautiful picture . I use it in the bedroom and bought a set of Sony Infra-Red headphones and plugged it directly into the earphone jack and I get surround sound with threatre vibration , Its awesome and I dont bother my wife sleeping or the neighbors upstairs watching late night movies. Im happy with the set and I feel most sets these days are all relatively equal when you get up to 1080 res. the rest comes down to how many “extras” you need or want on the set and quite frankly all I needed was aheadphone jack . Right next to the set was a toshiba for $10 more and I picked the Vizio because of the headphone jack and the picture was the same? Im not able to see the diffrence after a certain point and neither is anybody else …its all marketing so save your dough. That post about the set not turning on sounds like a planted review to stop people from buyinh Vizio or it was dropped and hard ! Vizio is selling like hotcakes and is passing Sony and the others for a good reason . Your pocketbook .
There is a setting in the “menu” portion of the set and you can turn surrond sound on or off so check that Jim . Push “MENU”
There are 4 blue squares on the left side of the screen and the second one down is the sound changes. Click Ok on that one and then scroll down to surround.
I’m 99% certain thats the problem unless you have it connected improperly – definitly use HDMI ! Its superior and the cable guys ALL say it dosent matter because they dont carry HDMI cables , why is beyond me?
I purchased three of the VA26Ls two for my self and 1 for my mother all three of them have an issue with the Composite Video dropping in and out. I tried multiple cables and players but they all do the same thing. I took one back for a replacement and it did the same thing. When this happens you have to switch from the AV port back to the TV and back
Okay, here’s the reason your surround sound won’t work-
There’s no audio output on this set. Don’t make the same mistake I did and buy speakers to go with your new TV because they won’t work! I have one of these sets and, although the picture is great, the inputs are all neatly labeled, and it looks very stylish, it drives me crazy that there is no kind of audio output besides the headphones jack. Since my surround set has no hdmi-in, I have to run separate audio and video to every device I want to be in both HD and surround. Another thing that bugs me a bit about this TV is that the stand doesn’t tilt, so you pretty much have to buy a wall mount. That 160 degree viewing angle is nice, but that’s only left to right. If you’re ten degrees down from the TV you can’t see a thing- sadly the dresser I put the TV on is quite a bit taller than the couch, so I always have to stand up to play xbox or watch anything. In the end, this is a pretty good set but don’t let the price fool you- once you add on the price of a wall mount and a much more sophisticated surround system than is necessary for most other sets, it’s not such a great deal anymore.