LCD HDTVs that feature fast, 120-Hz frame-refresh technology produce a picture with improved clarity and detail when compared with standard 60Hz LCDs, which update the screen half as often. The 42-inch Vizio SV420XVT ($1,399.99 list) is one of the most affordable 120-Hz LCDs on the market, and the allure of its price is augmented by a stylish modern design and a bundled HDMI cable. One caveat: This set's solid picture performance shows admirable color and contrast, but also an occasional distracting visual glitch related to its 120-Hz tech.

A glossy black bezel surrounding the set's antireflective screen is an impressively thin 1.25 inches. A matching matte-finish speaker bar below the display is accented with a silver midsection that conceals three 10-watt speakers. Audio quality is generally good, although the frequency response cuts off at about 11 kHz compared with the 15 kHz or higher that most TVs can reach. With the stand attached, the set measures 27.2 by 39.4 by 9.5 inches (HWD) and weighs 46.3 pounds. Removing the stand reduces the height and depth to 25.6 and 4 inches, respectively.

The bundled remote features a narrow baton-style design. The remote is as thin as 0.4 inch, roughly, at its top half and expands a bit toward the bottom for a comfortable grip. Vizio provides a very comprehensive list of control codes so that the remote can control a wide variety of VCRs, DVRs, cable and satellite set-top boxes, audio amplifiers, and additional televisions. During testing, the remote was responsive at distances exceeding 20 feet and at off-axis angles beyond 45-degrees.

The SV420XVT's selection of HD video connections is similar to those of other premium HDTVs, such as the Toshiba Regza 42XV540U, but the location of some of its ports is a bit inconvenient for some home-theater configurations. The set features four HDMI ports and two component video inputs, half of them located on the right-hand side of the set's front for easy access. Unfortunately, the placement of the downward-facing HDMI ports makes it a tight fit for thick cables. Other ports on the back of the TV include an RF input that feeds a combo analog/digital/cable tuner (NTSC/ATSC/QAM) and a VGA port for analog computer video input.

The 42-inch screen provides full 1080p resolution (1,920-by-1,080), and I was pleased that the VGA, HDMI, and component video ports were compatible with 1080p60 video signals. The set's HDMI ports also support 1080p24 input from compatible Blu-ray players like the Sony BDP-S350. At its highest resolution settings, 1080i/p for increased detail and clarity, the set had no problems with overscan. When I dialed it down to 720p with a component video input, 6 percent of the image was stretched beyond the edge of the screen, but 720p input via HDMI exhibited no such loss. Standard-definition (480i) overscan measured 7 percent, a result bordering on excessive.

I found the TV's out-of-the-box picture quality to be slightly off. Fair skin and sand-colored features appeared too red, and shades of white and gray were too blue. When I switched to the "movie" picture preset, the overall brightness was reduced, but the reddish faces and bluish grays remained. Manually calibrating the TV's color temperature and other video menu settings (according to HD video-production standards) resolved these problems. The picture controls' fine granularity was especially useful for making precise adjustments.

This set can produce a well-contrasted picture in almost any lighting situation. When configured for dark-room viewing (peak brightness limited to about 100 cd/m²), the SV420XVT's average black level measured only 0.08 cd/m². The resulting contrast ratio of 1,287:1 is perfect for watching a movie in the dark. The average black levels of the similarly sized (and configured) JVC LT-42X898 and the Toshiba 42XV540U were less impressive at 0.14 cd/m² (760:1) and 0.13 cd/m² (767:1), respectively. Also, the TV's dark-colored screen and peak brightness in excess of 400 cd/msup>2 are ideal for bright-room viewing.

Making standard-definition (SD) video look good on a large HDTV requires effective video processing, and the set's performance with SD video was slightly above average. The 120-Hz LCD technology enhanced the detail and clarity of the resulting picture, but jagged edges and related interlaced video artifacts remained visible. I noticed "jaggies" in the eyelids of some actors and complex panning shots occasionally caused the TV's interpolation function to noticeably pulse. Even with this mixed result, the SV420XVT's overall performance with SD video material was slightly better than the Editors' Choice–winning LG 47LG60.

Performance with high-definition video was also mixed. At its best, the TV's 120-Hz feature increased the smoothness of camera motions and enhanced picture detail. The epic panning shots in the Blu-ray version of Planet Earth were especially impressive when compared with the same scenes viewed on a 60-Hz LCD. However, in the Blu-ray version of Iron Man, several scenes caused the TV's interpolation function to fail, resulting in some obvious, distracting image corruption. If you fast-forward on a DVR, you'll find that the set will occasionally hiccup as the DVR returns to normal playback speed. The picture will appear as if it's running in slow motion until a scene change gives the interpolation system a chance to reset itself. One scene in an episode of the HD television series Art of the Heist features a commercial jetliner moving past a stationary camera, and the SV420XVT smeared a section of the windows along the aircraft's fuselage into a solid block. The HD HQV Benchmark test disc's 1080i video and film resolution test patterns also showed some corruption artifacts.

LCDs can be very energy efficient, and the SV420XVT is no exception, with an estimated monthly operating cost of $3.89 (195W) when using its default picture settings—based on 5 hours of daily use at $0.13 per kWh (a local average). This result is identical to that of the similarly sized Toshiba 42XV540U. I was less impressed with the energy savings achieved with the movie picture preset (which has a lower backlight setting); it reduced the set's monthly estimate only to $3.24 (162W), compared with Toshiba's $2.14 (107W) when using a similar picture setting. Manually reducing the backlight setting to its lowest level brought the SV420XVT's monthly cost estimate down to a more palatable $2.01 (100W).

Even with its 120-Hz quirks, the Vizio SV420XVT represents a solid improvement in HD picture quality for the company, even though the TV's full potential is realized only after professional video calibration. Samsung's latest sets with 120-Hz LCD technology (including the LN52A750) are better at handling complex scenes, but they're also considerably more expensive. Overall, the SV420XVT offers a definite bargain for cutting-edge LCD technology.

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Benchmark Test Results:
Calibrated display settings
HDMI video input @ 1080p24/1080p60

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