Westinghouse Digital 32″ 720p HDTV LCD ( SK-32H540S ) Review
Westinghouse Digital 32″ 720p HDTV LCD ( SK-32H540S )
SK-32H540S
Westinghouse Digital has a history of crafting flat-panel HDTVs that provide a good balance of features and performance at a tempting price. The SK-32H540S, the company’s latest 32-inch LCD HDTV, delivers on quality when it comes to upconverted content from standard-definition video sources. Its performance with high-def video, however, leaves much to be desired.
The screen resolution of the SK-32H540S is 1,366 by 768 pixels. That’s slightly more resolution than the 720p video format (1,280 by 720 pixels), and half the resolution of 1080p video, like that from a Blu-ray movie. Scaling tests revealed that the TV was displaying HD programming with minimal overscan. With SD video, however the TV stretched the image beyond the edge of the screen by a troubling 7 percent, a barely passing result. I suggest using the SK-32H540S’s HDMI inputs whenever possible, since HD test patterns revealed that the set fails to resolve the finest details of 720p and 1080i sources when using component video input. At times, up to half of the original video detail is discarded. That’s an awful result, and it effectively reduces the TV’s lone component input to standard-definition duty only.
Text-based with suitably large and easy to read fonts and reasonably laid out, the menu features a quintet of sub-groups for Picture, Audio, Channels, Settings, and Locks. Some of the advanced pictureadjustment controls are located in the Settings area and not the Picture area where they really should be, but the good news is that Westinghouse provides full control over picture enhancement features as well as selectable color temperature. Another quirk is that there appears to be no Exit button on the remote to quickly back out of the menu system. A counterclockwise arrow button on the upper right quadrant of the cursor keypad suggests an exit function, but instead activates previous channel selected instead. There aren’t any picture memories other than a single Custom setting. However, each input has individual picture memories.
The Westinghouse SK-32H540S’s overall performance is mixed at best. Its mostly solid SD performance is overshadowed by its lackluster showing with HD video, particularly with the 1080i format, which is the most common broadcast HD format. Finally, the component input is a poor performer. Sure, you could stick to HDMI-equipped source devices, but that’s just one too many compromises for an already mediocre TV.
Technical Details
• ATSC/NTSC/Cable Clear-QAM tuners
• Two HDMI inputs
• Analog and optical digital audio outputs
• VGA input
• Component video, composite video inputs
Pros: This television can display images that are sharper and more realistic than analog television when hooked up to a high definition signal.The 3:2 pulldown feature of this set reduces artifacts that can occur when motion pictures are transferred to a digital format such as DVD.
Cons: None noted, given available product data.
Suitability: An LCD TV, suited for home entertainment.In general, a wide aspect display such as this one is well suited for DVD movies recorded in the popular 16:9 format, as well as high definition programming.
Value: Given its very inexpensive price, this TV has good features for the money.In fact, you would usually pay around 45% more to get a LCD TV having roughly the same viewable size.
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