PICTURE QUALITY This model's high-definition picture quality, though good, was below that of most other sets. It did a very good job displaying fine detail. Color accuracy was acceptable, but below that of most sets. Color temperature was moderately on the warm side, lending images a reddish tone. Lack of contrast gave images a flatter appearance with little depth. The brightness level was good, making it a suitable choice for most rooms. Black levels were only fair with darker areas of the image looking unnaturally illuminated. Dark scenes, in particular, were lacking in contrast. Images had a slight degree of enhancement that slightly diminished the realism of people and objects. In scenes with subtly shaded light-to-dark areas, such as a sky during sunset, the TV did a very good job producing a smooth transition without distinct, coarse bands.
VIEWING ANGLE This Westinghouse has a narrow viewing angle overall, below-average performance among LCD sets on this attribute. Only those seated directly in front of the screen will see the best picture quality. If your family is seated in chairs off to the sides of the TV, they will see increasing degradation of image quality the farther they sit from center.
When we moved off to the sides the horizontal viewing angle was fair; the picture showed a moderate loss of color so flesh tones looked washed out, along with a moderate color shift. Black levels brightened significantly, making dark scenes look hazy. When viewing the image from above or below eye level to the screen, the vertical viewing angle was very good. The picture showed minimal change in color, contrast, and black level.
SCREEN REFLECTIVITY Though not as mirror-like as on some LCDs, this screen surface is glossy and therefore susceptible to reflections from a nearby lamp or window. The screen is dark so it does a good job reducing glare from ambient light and maintains contrast even in a bright room.
SOUND QUALITY This TV has poor sound quality, which is apparent on typical programming, and glaringly so with movie soundtracks and music. With movies, dialog was generally clear and natural sounding, though somewhat muffled and thin, while remaining well balanced with respect to background music and other sounds. Bass extension was notably absent, and treble lacked detail, while the overall sound was somewhat thin, and notably closed in. It has a good volume range so the TV should play sufficiently loud in typical room environments. If you expect at least decent sound from your TV, especially one intended for primary viewing, we suggest looking at other models or be prepared to add an external sound system.
EASE OF USE Overall, we found the set was easy to use for the most part. Setting up the TV for the first time was fairly straightforward, as was access to features and controls you'll probably adjust only once. Ease of access to features you typically use more often was good. Also, the remote is very good, and the on-screen menu is less easy to navigate than others.
The remote's major function buttons were sufficiently large and have high-contrast labeling, making them easier to see and navigate. We found the set responds slowly to commands from the remote. It lacks the ability to add custom labels to different input sources.
STAND ASSEMBLY Mounting the support stand to the TV is straightforward.
INTERNET FEATURES This TV provides basic Internet functionality with a limited selection of applications Movie streaming services include: Netflix, Vudu, YouTube, Pandora.
CONNECTIONS This TV includes three HDMI inputs, one shared connection between the component and composite inputs (which means you can only use one type or the other at a time), one VGA input, optical digital audio out, one USB port, an Ethernet port, and Wi-Fi. This TV has no type of wireless connectivity. The cable connections on the rear panel are recessed with side or bottom-facing ports, so wires don't protrude beyond the display's depth.
INCLUDED IN THE BOX The TV comes with: a printed user manual, an electronic manual in the TV's menu, a quick start guide, and a remote with batteries. ABOUT FIRMWARE VERSION: Our test results and picture settings are valid for the version of firmware indicated. If your TV's firmware differs from the one shown you either have an older or a newer version of firmware. Manufacturers may periodically upgrade the TV's firmware to enhance operation, fix bugs, or add features. Firmware upgrades may be downloadable directly to your TV via a wired or wireless network (if internet capable), USB port, or memory card, depending on your TV's capability. You can check your TV's firmware version, or upgrade to the latest firmware by pressing the menu button on your remote and navigating to the appropriate submenu, typically under settings. Consult the user manual or manufacturer's website if further guidance is needed.
