Westinghouse LVM-42w2 Review

What the reviewers like:
While there are some LCD TVs that perform a little better, reviewers find that the value offered by the Westinghouse Digital LVM-42w2 is hard to beat. The audio system is said to be excellent, with a built-in 10-watt subwoofer. There are lots of HD inputs, and the Westinghouse LVM-42w2 is capable of accepting 1080p input signals and displaying them at full resolution. The feature set includes a fairly sophisticated picture-in-picture function. Because it doesn't have tuners, however, the Westinghouse LCD monitor is only appropriate for cable and satellite subscribers.

What the reviewers don't like:
While black levels on the Westinghouse LVM-42w2 are said to be good, reports indicate that they are not as good as those on the best LCD TVs. The Westinghouse LVM-42w2 is a monitor, meaning it lacks tuners of any kind, making it a much better choice for those who get all of their programming from a cable box or satellite TV receiver. Reports say that images are very slightly sharper through the component video inputs than they are through the HDMI or DVI connector. The remote control is also said to be a little too basic.

Westinghouse LVM-42w2 review highlights

Overall reviewer consensus says that the 42-inch Westinghouse Digital LVM-42w2 1080p HD monitor can match more expensive 1080p TVs when it comes to image quality, and it costs far less than most. Achieving this type of performance at this price involves some tradeoffs, however. Most important, the Westinghouse LVM-42w2 is an HD monitor -- which means it has no tuners at all, making it best for those who get all of their programming through a cable box or satellite receiver (which serves as the tuner). Among other LCD TVs, professional reviewers say that the 40-inch Sony BRAVIA KDL-40XBR2 (*est. $2,390) delivers a 1080p image that is slightly better, and the Sony does have tuners -- but it�s considerably more expensive.

We found the best comparative review for the 42-inch Westinghouse Digital LVM-42w2 at Consumer Reports, which tests LCD TVs in a wide range of sizes and resolutions for its latest update. While Consumer Reports tests a lot of TVs, reviews at Home Theater and Sound & Vision magazines are far more detailed and insightful, even though editors really don't compare the Westinghouse LVM-42w2 HD monitor to the competition. The Audioholics review of the Westinghouse LVM-42w2 is especially recommended for those interested in lots of technical data. This website is aimed at audio and video enthusiasts.

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

According to Consumer Reports, LCD TVs now have improved viewing angles and fewer issues with reflections and glare than plasma sets, but they don't display deep blacks as well. Individual sets get only a few lines of commentary, providing far less detail than most other resources. Still, the magazine updates its ratings on a regular basis, and those ratings are based upon competent testing. The Westinghouse LVM-42w2 is included in a ratings chart with over sixty over LCD TVs.

2. Home Theater Magazine
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Westinghouse LVM-42w2 LCD HD Monitor
Adrienne Maxwell
May 2006

Home Theater magazine regularly tests LCD TVs in detailed single-set reports and multi-TV roundups, as well as in brief capsule reports. While some reviews at this site are only a few paragraphs long, this review of the Westinghouse Digital LVM-42w2 is long and well detailed. However, the monitor really isn't compared to the competition.

3. Sound & Vision Magazine
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Westinghouse LVM-42w2 42-inch LCD HDTV Monitor
Al Griffin
June 2006

Sound & Vision magazine regularly tests LCD TVs in highly detailed single-set reports. Top-performing TVs are eligible for one of several best-buy ratings. The 42-inch Westinghouse LVM-42w2 makes the grade by virtue of its 1080p capability, as well as the ability to produce inky blacks and sharp detail. Reviewer Al Griffin adds that the set is a "formidable alternative to plasma."

4. Audioholics.com
Clint DeBoer
April 15, 2006

Audioholics.com is an online audio/video magazine with an emphasis on high-end gear. Reviews are pages long and go into great detail, including lots of technical information, test results and photos. Products, including LCD TVs, are not directly compared to one another, but the sets receive subjective ratings in numerous categories, as well as an overall and value rating. The Westinghouse LVM-42w2 is the object of one of these scientific reviews.

5. About.com
Product Review: Westinghouse LVM-42w2 review
Matthew Torres

Matthew Torres, About.com’s TV/Video guide, tackles LCD TV performance from a user’s perspective. While it is clear that no rigorous testing is going on here, the short reviews are easy to read and directly address what Torres feels are the strong and weak points of each LCD TV. Unfortunately, this resource is only of limited value as relatively few sets are reviewed, and many of those are already discontinued. The Westinghouse LVM-42w2 gets an evaluation.

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

At this well-trafficked user forum, the main thread on the Westinghouse LVM-42w2 is over 6,000 posts long, and the display is discussed in other threads as well. As with most forum websites, it takes a while to pick through the comments, but many postings are detailed and helpful.

7. Amazon.com
Westinghouse LVM-42w2 reviews
Contributors to Amazon.com

The Westinghouse Digital LVM-42w2 is the subject of over fifty owner reviews at Amazon.com, so there are enough reviews here to lend credibility to the TV's overall user rating. This site is worth a visit, if the Westinghouse LVM-42w2 is on your shortlist.

8. Epinions
Westinghouse LVM-42w2 reviews
Contributors to Epinions

While Epinions also offers users the opportunity to share their opinions about products they own, it gets far less traffic than Amazon.com. We found only a handful of ratings here for the Westinghouse Digital LVM-42w2 -- not enough to be very helpful.

Also see full report: LCD TV

Westinghouse LVM-42w2 Review