Vizio GV42L Review

What the reviewers like:
The Vizio GV42L is one of the least expensive 42-inch LCD HDTVs available. The picture is described in reviews as bright, colorful and sharp. The remote control is called excellent and is backlit for easy use in low lighting. Easy-to-use on-screen menus and extensive picture controls make it a good value in its size class.

What the reviewers don't like:
Although reviews indicate that the Vizio GV42L is a good value, experts say black levels and shadow detail can't really match that of the higher-priced competition. Scaling and deinterlacing are only so-so, leading to less-robust standard definition performance. In some reviews, default color settings are said to be pretty far off, requiring adjustment, and we noticed more issues with image blurring during fast motion compared to better LCD TVs.

Vizio GV42L review highlights

Overall, reviews are mixed on the performance of the 42-inch Vizio GV42L LCD HDTV. On the plus side, the image is called bright, colorful and sharp. However, defects such as less convincing blacks and shadow detail, non-defeatable edge enhancement and uneven uniformity are noted. In addition, the Vizio GV42L does not do particularly well with standard definition video. However, many reviews add that despite these shortcomings, the Vizio GV42L is an exceptional value. Reviews say the competing 40-inch Sony BRAVIA KDL-40XBR2 (*est. $2,390) delivers a better, higher resolution image. The Vizio LCD TV also comes with tuners and lot of other goodies, but it has a smaller screen size and is considerably more expensive.

The 42-inch Vizio GV42L HDTV is included in testing at Consumer Reports, where it’s judged in relation to over 60 over LCD televisions. Consumer Reports' editors provide numerical scores and rankings in a number of areas, as well as an overall rating that makes it easy to see which LCD TVs do best. One negative is that the editors offer no more than a few lines of description about each LCD TV. PC Magazine does not review nearly as many TVs as Consumer Reports, but it provides much more in the way of discussion. Ultimate AV magazine has also published a detailed review and offers even more by way of technical details.

Also see full report: LCD TV

*In order of credibility (see our Ratings Criteria).

1. Consumer Reports
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LCD TVs
Editors of Consumer Reports
Feb. 2007

Consumer Reports' editors rate a large number of LCD TVs, including the Vizio GV42L, in its latest update. Although Consumer Reports keeps this report up to date and summarizes its test results in an easy to read ratings chart, editors don't give each television much description. If you're looking for a detailed evaluation, PC Magazine and Ultimate AV are better. But if you want a quick judgment based on thorough testing, Consumer Reports fits the bill.

2. PC Magazine
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Vizio GV42L review
Robert Heron
Mar. 2, 2007

PC Magazine reports on LCD TVs in fairly detailed single-page reports. Scores are assigned, so it’s easy to see how each LCD TV stacks up against the competition, and the best sets are recognized with an Editors’ Choice award. Reviewer Robert Heron tests the Vizio GV42L with a wide range of media while evaluating color and ease of use. This detailed review is easy to read, and PC Magazine includes other articles and reviews on LCD TV technology.

3. Ultimate AV Magazine
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VIZIO L42HDTV and GV42L LCDs Vs. VIZIO P42HDTV Plasma
Thomas J. Norton
Oct. 2006

In this interesting review, Thomas J. Norton compares two Vizio LCD televisions and a Vizio plasma TV. While not quite comparing apples to apples, the review itself is highly detailed, with comments on performance and ease of use.

4. AVSForum.com
LCD Flat Panels
Contributors to AVSForum.com

At AVSForum.com, the Vizio GV42L shares a fairly busy thread (nearly 1,800 posts) with the now discontinued but largely similar Vizio L42. You’ll also find discussion about the GV42L in numerous other threads. This is a great site for reading insightful and intelligent user commentary, but as with all forum websites, it does take time to read the posts and extract the information that's important to you.

5. Epinions
Vizio GV42L reviews
Contributors to Epinions

Epinions allows site visitors to rate their own TVs. To date, only a couple of owners have left comments for the Vizio GV42L. There are not enough reviews here to glean any sort of wide-ranging consensus about this LCD HDTV.

Also see full report: LCD TV