PICTURE QUALITY. This TV has a significant flaw in its motion processing. All content played on this TV shows a "stuttering" effect, or jerkyness during motion which is very distracting, especially on sports programs. We purchased a second sample of this TV and it too had the same problem. We hope this can be fixed with a firmware update from the manufacturer, but until then we suggest shopping for a different model. Aside from the motion problem, the TV did a very good job displaying fine detail. Color accuracy was very good, with image content, and flesh tones in particular, looking natural. Color temperature was moderately on the cool side, lending images a bluish tone. Contrast—the difference between the darkest blacks and brightest whites—was good, so images had depth and dimension, typical of most models we test. The brightness level was good, making it a suitable choice for most rooms. Black levels were generally good, though not as dark as better performers on the darkest scenes. There was visible banding (unnatural contours) on scenes with subtly shaded light-to-dark areas, such as a sky during sunset, rather than smooth transitions. Film mode operation for HD film-based content was poor with visible jaggies along the edges of objects during motion scenes. Deinterlacing was also poor, with obvious jaggies visible on video-based content that the model converted from 1080i to the display's native resolution.
VIEWING ANGLE. This Insignia has a moderate viewing angle overall, decent, but not quite as good as the better-performing TVs we've tested. The optimal seating position for best picture quality is directly in front of this model. When we viewed the TV from the sides, image quality got worse, along with a moderate color shift. Black levels visibly brightened, reducing contrast especially on dark scenes. 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.
MOTION BLUR. This Insignia TV has poor motion performance, with obvious blurring on our motion tests. This is worse than average for LCD TVs with the basic 60Hz frame rate. This model does not include a blur reduction feature. The visibility of blurring on typical program content is often subtle and may not bother most people, but keen-eyed viewers may detect some loss of texture and detail on scenes with movement.
SCREEN REFLECTIVITY. Though not as mirror-like as on some models, 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 model has fair sound quality with below average performance. It's acceptable for typical programming, but shortcomings become obvious with movie soundtracks and music. With movies, dialog was generally clear and remained well balanced with respect to background music and other sounds. Bass was lacking, as was treble detail, and the overall sound was, and a bit thin, and a bit closed in. The speakers produced a good volume—so this model should play sufficiently loud in typical room environments, though quality degraded at the highest volume settings. If sound quality matters to you, you might want to add a soundbar or other external speaker system.
EASE OF USE. Overall, it was very easy to setup and fairly easy to do routine things. On first power up there is an on-screen guide that helps you through setting up the TV. The remote's major function buttons were sufficiently large and have high-contrast labeling, making them easier to see and navigate.
STAND ASSEMBLY. The TV's base does not come pre-attached, so some assembly is required. Mounting the support stand to the TV is straightforward, though the stand requires the assembly of one part before mounting.
INTERNET FEATURES. This TV does not have access to the Internet.
CONNECTIONS. This model has three HDMI inputs—one supports MHL (Mobile High-definition Link), one composite input {and} no component input. It also has one USB port, an optical digital audio out, a headphone out. 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. A quick start guide. A remote control with batteries. No printed manual is included.
