LVM-42w2 Viewing Evaluation
I was itching to view this 1080p display with the highest possible resolution source. To accomplish this I utilized several sources. First I placed a standard DVD into a NeoDigits Helios HVD2085 player which features 1080p upconversion via its component and HDMI outputs. I then inserted an HVD which had a native resolution of 720p and sent it to the LVM-42w2 as well. The results were absolutely stunning. Finally I sent some native 1080p content to the display using a PC source component playing back Windows Media Video HD files.
Typically I am more verbose in my viewing evaluations, but in this case I think the pictures will do most of the talking and I have included more than usual. Let's take a look at the visual results.
DVD: Chicken Little (Upconverted by Player to 1080p)
This evaluation utilized the DVI-D input of the Westinghouse 1080p display and showed off the exceptional detail and clarity that can be achieved at this resolution - even with standard definition material. I selected this disc as it represents about the most pristine DVD source material you will find since animation is rendered at a very consistent (and high) quality.
Check out the brick detail and the fur in these photos. From our viewing position the effect is like watching a pristine image that is seamless, artifact-free and absolutely stunning - and we hadn't yet scratched the surface.
DVD: Gladiator (Upconverted by Player to 1080p)
Gladiator was a practical move that made me see why the Westinghouse should be run with the backlight all the way at 0 whenever you care to get the best black levels at night. Shadow detail was excellent for an LCD display and I found myself peering into the background elements of each scene to pick up subtle details that would be lost (or at least banded and ruined) by lesser displays.
These are just a few images I selected for capture, but you should quickly get the idea that this is a display worth watching.
HVD: Le Peuple Migrateur (720p MPEG-2 Upconverted by Player to 1080p)
I tried using the television as the scaler as well as the DVD player and settled on the DVD player which produced smooth, artifact-free images that dazzled the eyes. Aside from a HTPC and WMV HD, HVDs are about the closest most users will come to seeing the true potential of a real 1080p display. This HVD was mastered flawlessly and the picture quality really produced what can only be described as the "window-effect" where images took on a true 3D look. Objects on the screen had greater detail and the depth of field, which is typically minimized on standard definition content, was enough to add incredible richness to the scenes.
WMV HD: Terminator 2, To the Limit, Robotica (1080p)
This was it - the moment of truth. I fed the Westinghouse LCD display TRUE 1080p content courtesy of Microsoft and Windows Media Video HD. It takes a pretty powerful computer just to push out 1080p, but our 3GHz machine with 1GB RAM fit the bill nicely.
If you look at the larger version of this second image you will see one of the downsides of HD resolution video: It is far easier to spot stunt doubles in movies. And those actresses you thought were perfect suddenly appear a bit more blemished during their close-ups.
The results speak for themselves - but since this is a review, I suppose I should comment anyway. To the Limit was more impressive than Terminator 2 - primarily because the 1080p T2 video was really just a promotional tool for selling the Extreme Edition of the DVD (as in "extremely redundant" or "extremely not the last edition"). I found the imagery to be almost hypnotic on this display - there is simply no comparison to other displays once you see true 1080p material. Suddenly, I wish the masses were more educated about HD (they're not) so that the new HD disc formats would take off sooner rather than later. Unfortunately, I don't think this will be the case. Robotica is a piece designed to show off just how good a fully digital path looks in HD. In a word - glass. It looks like you are peering through glass and watching the movement and action as if it were real. I am very excited about how well 1080p will make some of my favorite animated or heavily CG movies look.
1080p Anomalies to Watch Out For
When viewing 1080p material on the LVM-42w2, the source image was, unfortunately, either positioned with a black bar on the right (component input) or left (DVI 1 or 2 input). Using a different source I quickly realized that this was not the display, but the DVD player. Selecting Aspect Ratio > Fill will eliminate this should you encounter a similar issue and the scaling of this display is so good that I can recommend using this function without fear of seriously adding visible artifacts to the image. As there are not a plethora of 1080p sources or displays on the market I suspect there will be some issues at the offset as various devices learn how to best work together in harmony. I also noticed a 1-2 pixel line at the bottom of the screen - which was again attributed to the source player and again removed with the Fill mode engaged.
One other anomaly I encountered during the review included instances where the set simply would not turn off. This happened approximately 4 times in the span of 4 weeks. The workaround was to physically unplug the unit and plug it back in. Remote control and the on/off button located on the side of the display did not reset the unit. This was about the only strange behavior beyond the flakey remote control responsiveness which went away once I programmed the functions into a different universal remote control. All-in-all, I mostly have had a positive experience these past several weeks.
