Vizio VF551XVT Review

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Vizio might be the new guy on the block when it comes to LED TVs, but they are quickly making some waves in the industry and it is no wonder with models like the Vizio VF551XVT. This older LED TV model from Vizio features an all black screen with a slim bezel that surrounds the 55 inch screen. Beneath the screen is a floating silver trim that in our opinion looks somewhat out of place compared to newer TV models, but it does distinguish this TV from the LED TV market. The screen is supported by a matching pedestal base.


A refresh rate of 240 Hz guarantees that everything from action movies to sports looks good on your TV. Having such a high refresh rate greatly reduces motion blur from moving images, such as those found in sports and in action movies. Typical LCD TVs refresh the image at a rate of 60 Hz, better TVs refresh at 120 Hz and the best go all the way up to 240 Hz. Vizio is really making a name for itself by offering high end features at their price points.

The LED backlights featured on the Vizio VF551XVT allow the TV to maintain detail on dark scenes while at the same time producing eye-searing whites. The Vizio VF551XVT also employs local dimming technology which allows the TV to turn off certain portions of the screen for greater contrast. This allows you to have the best picture quality in well lit rooms as well as in dark home theater rooms. Local dimming has greatly improved the overall picture quality found on all LED TVs. The VF551XVT was one of Vizios first local dimming LED TVs so the technology was new when this TV was made.

One of the major drawbacks to this TV is that fact that its response time is so high; at 8ms you will notice blurred images when the action gets intense. Most LED TVs now days have a response time of no more than 3ms. Along with the lengthy response time you will find that a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio is also well below par for a high end LED TV. The only other thing we found that could have been improved is the thickness of the TV. At 5 inches thick you would almost think it has the old CCFL lighting instead of LED lighting. This makes the TV very hard to hang on a wall and in some situations hard to find a place for in your living room.

Included on the Vizio VF551XVT are a whopping 5 HDMI inputs. This means no more switching cables to connect various electronics to your TV. You can leave them all connected at the same time and easily switch between them using your remote.

The help and support found on Vizios site is another huge selling point for anyone looking to buy any type of electronic. You can contact them via phone, email or live chat; you will also find FAQs and online manuals for additional help if needed. Overall there are very few companies out there that do a better job with online help and support.

Summary:

The Vizio VF551XVT has all the features you need and a price that you want to pay. The picture quality may not add up to that of some of our top ranked products, but if you want to save a little money and still get a good TV this may be a good choice.

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