Product Description

32" HDTV Ready LCD TV with no tuner

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #39498 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Silver
• Brand: Syntax
• Model: 332H
• Dimensions: 28.00" h x 11.00" w x 36.00" l, 44.00 pounds
• Display size: 32

Features

• Big Picture Technology
• Director's Image
• User Upgradeable Firmware via USB
• User Friendly OSD
• Box contains: Manual, Power Cords, Remote, Quick Start Guide

Customer Reviews

Almost Perfect
I recently decided to take the plunge and get an LCD T.V. I say take the plunge because it really is not as glamorous as you may think. Allow me to explain. LCD and Plasma T.V.s as generally in widescreen HD format which is actually great for DVDs and HD content, but since most content is still in SD(standard definition), it is not very good for watching regular T.V.

Back to the T.V. I generally do weeks of research before making a purchase more that $200, and this was no exception. After comparing all the T.V.s I could find, this one shined for both picture quality and price. The only real downside here is the lack of inputs (only one component input) and the lack of a DVI input, but obviously that didn't stop me, and I shall explain later on, because we must get the the heart of the issue.

HD Quality
- Hooked up to a HD reciever with HDMI, this monitor competes with those that cost hundreds more. I will tell you now, a $3,000 monitor or T.V. with get better quality, but in this price range (and maybe even the one above it) this T.V. is tops. I have also viewed HD content through a VGA hook up via my computer, and that looks pretty damn close. Do not under estimate VGA, just buy a very good cable. Belkin makes a great own around $30.

DVD Quality
- There are many ways to hook up a DVD player. I have done so in everyway possible which is component, composite, and through a computer VGA. The component and VGA look idenical for the most part, but many things can affect this. The better the DVD player (mine isn't that great) the better the pictures. Then with the computer, the better the DVD-ROM, the better the cable, and the better your decoder (I use PureVideo by nVIDIA), the better the picture. Composite video is about as good as the standard definition looks like, so that really should be a last resort.

SD Content
- As I explained before, SD T.V. doesn't generally look good on most HDTVs or monitors, but for the price of this monitor, I was amazed. I really attribute some of it to my PureVideo decoder, as I watch it with a Media Center PC through VGA, so I hooked up through component, and it looked pretty damn close. It's no HD picture, or even DVD, but at 10' away, it looks good, no complaints.

Computer Content
- Hehe. I love using my Media Center PC on this monitor. It is clear and easy to read and use. I have it set to the monitors native 1366 x 768 resolution and it's great. I am sitting on the floor writing this review right now! Halo for the PC looks great on the monitor as well, very sharp, no problems.

I apologize for not being able to review gaming concole performance, as I don't own one at this moment in time, but one other review did, so check that out.

Audio
- The audio is, well, not that great, but to tell you the truth, as a former CompUSA employee, even the high price HDTVs don't have good audio. You really need an external audio audio source you can hook into your reciever, or even into the audio out on the T.V., it sounds better! If you aren't really into audio and don't want surround sound, it's no big deal, but I would reall suggest getting an external system

So overall, I am quite pleased with my purchase. I had been reviewing Olevia products at CompUSA for a while, as was always impressed and am glad I chose them. One you recieve the monitor, you will have to tweak the picture settings and what not. There is a good tutorial on how to do this on CNET, just search HDTV How-To, and you should be able to find it.

Enjoy your monitor!

Great TV for the Price
Pros: Great TV for the Price, probably the best in it's price range.

Cons: Only one component input, undetachable speakers.

Purchased this TV after one retailer having it for a super low price online. After doing some research & was pleasantly surprised. The Picture Quality is great. I have Comcast HDTV box hooked up via HDMI, Computer connected via VGA, and Xbox 360 connected via component.

The HDTV picture is great, picture quality is better than most tv's in this price range. Black levels can't compare to plasma but it's probably the best I've seen from an LCD thus far. Standard definition TV is ok, nothing to write home about but it's still better than most tv's in this price range. For HDTV via HDMI i give it 9/10. For Standard via HDMI i give 7/10.

Computer via VGA looks great after tweaking (setting resolution to 1360x768 and then enabling 1:1 mode on the TV) to use for just general computer use. For watching Xvid/Divx/WMV/etc content it looks great as well (I switch to aspect mode on the TV, and full screen theatre mode on the video card control panel). After tweaking with the FFDShow Image Settings (Blur & NR, Sharpen, Noise, and Resize/aspect ratio) it looks superb. Hell, some of the Xvid HD content can be mistakened for the actual HDTV broadcast. Of course, transport stream files come out the best but the picture quality is great. Playing games in widescreen mode is very clear, and there's no ghosting at all. General Computer Use I give it a 8/10. For watching videos on the computer I give it a 10/10. For playing video games on the computer i give it a 9/10.

Xbox360 via component is great. Games look more detailed compared to my Samsung DLP. Just need the HD-DVD player to see how the PQ is in terms of HD-DVD but DVD playback looks good. I don't think the Xbox360 can upscale over component so that's a bummer but standard DVD is good. I give it a 8/10.

The sound quality is good, I'm not audiophile but this TV fits my needs. Sound gets 8/10.

Overall I give the TV a 9/10. Biggest problem is that it only has one component input. I also don't like how you can't detach the speakers but overall in terms of picture quality this TV is very good, and great after you calibrate/tweak it. I Highly recommend this TV.

Great starter HDTV
After having 2 of these TV's for over a month I decided to add my review now that I have burned enough time to give a good enough review of this HDTV model.

I did heavy research on many HDTV's before settling on this one. The contrast ratio and HDTV features beats almost all of the same priced models in retail stores such as best buy, circuity city etc. That said this tv does not have a built-in hd tuner, that really should not dissuade you from this TV because if you have satellite or cable currently and you are looking to go HD cable or satellite then a over-the-air hd tuner is un-needed unless you want to grab over-the-air local hdtv broadcasts but with my hdtv my cable company gives me all the local channels in HD format anyways.

I would recommend this LCD HDTV to anyone even though I had slight problem with 1 of the televisions I ordered, that being minor and not effecting picture quality, the problem was with the power up cycle had to be switched on twice before viewing. Only reason its 4stars instead of a full 5. The other down-side is the new remote code this tv uses, like others have found out most cable company remotes and universal remotes will not work on this TV. Only a learning remote at this time will work. Hopefully that changes in the next year but since I use a surround sound system it doesn't bother me much considering all I need a remote for is to turn it on and I'm set.

Contacting Syntax Olevia support is a breeze, the wait time is next to nothing and you get on the line with someone almost right after asking for a customer service rep. They are polite and very helpful and you don't feel like you are being read text book speech from some tele-company in India looking just to placate you. They have an exchange plan that allows you to get a new one sent to you without returning the defective model to them first which saves on time on both ends.