Product Description

The Olevia 5 Series LCD HDTVs, engineered to provide exceptional video and audio, will impresseven the toughest critics. Powered by MTKs state-of-the-art MDDI video processor technology,the Olevia 5 Series HDTVs display exceptionally crisp, rich and vibrant images with unsurpassedclarity for viewing high definition digital programs as well as standard analog TV channels. Withhigh contrast ratios and fast response times, rapid-action viewing such as sporting events oradventure films is displayed with super clarity and truly come alive. With a super-wide 178-degreeviewing angle, images look spectacular wherever you are seated. These LCD HDTVs are perfectfor home or office viewing and can double as a computer display with support for TV resolutionsup to 1080i, and PC resolutions up to 1360 x 768 through HDMI and VGA. To further enhance yourexperience, Olevias surround sound audio processor creates an awesome listening environmentwhile watching TV, movies or playing games. RS-232 control enables you to connect your OleviaHDTV to a home entertainment system. Once you see the new Olevia, you will agree that you have neverseen HDTV like this.

Product Details

• Brand: Olevia
• Model: 542I
• Dimensions: 34.70" h x 14.20" w x 43.30" l, 95.90 pounds
• Display size: 42

Features

• Device Type - LCD TV
• Dimensions - 43.3" x 34.7" x 14.2"
• Weight - 96 lbs

Customer Reviews

Never knew TV could look this good...
I keep on hearing just how good HDTV looks, and I've seen in-store displays and not been impressed, of course. I also haven't been impressed with most of the HDTVs I've seen in people's houses with all the glare and stuff ruining the picture. So, I waited a LONG time before getting an HDTV for two reasons. First, I had a price point the TV had to get down to before I would buy. Secondly, the TV had to be an LCD (need to wallmount above fireplace; need to connect to HTPC, so no plasma with the rectangular pixels). Therefore, after a HECK of a lot of research and reading review after review, I chose the Olevia 542i for a great many reasons.

Reasons included very high ratings, very few complaints, extremely low price, Phillips S-IPS LCD panel, excellent SD scaler, lots of picture modes/zoom/adjustments/etc, built with PC use in mind, firmware updateable (haven't updated yet, but I could), etc. Ok, so I get the TV when it's at its cheapest price ever (mwahaha!), which was a full Benjamin below what I was willing to pay for it (the extra money paid for the Peerless Onemount wallmount for it). After I unpack the TV, I quickly scoot it over and use a VGA cable to connect it to my main PC just to test it out with World of Warcraft. I was completely blown away. It was a 42" LCD computer monitor at 1360x768, so clear you couldn't see pixels unless you were within two feet of it (with my glasses on)!

Anyway, I tested it with a bunch of different sources and everything just amazed me. It looks WAY WAY better, even with standard-def s-video and component video sources, than my Sony WEGA 27" CRT TV. I didn't expect that at all. The scaler in this Olevia (and the 37" 5-series model) is just incredible. Noise reduction is extremely impressive also, better than my Sony WEGA CRT by far, as regular Dish Network content is full of noise (low-bitrate mpeg-2; I will get an mpeg-4 Dish HD receiver soon).

Well, I rarely post reviews of items and mostly just read tons of reviews, but I had to post a review for this TV, especially since I didn't see any reviews for it on Amazon. I posted a bunch of pictures I took with my camera at 2048x1536 resolution, but Amazon scaled them down so they don't really do the TV justice. Still, you can get an idea of how awesome this TV is by looking at the pics.

I can honestly say that this is the best-looking display of any kind I have ever seen for any price. It is truly a bargain and can easily compete with any 1080i LCD its size at twice the price. Oh, also, HD content puts even the best-looking DVDs playing through the best-quality DVD player to shame, and this TV shows every detail beautifully in HD. The only downside is the black-level detail, but it is less and less noticeable with higher quality sources (I don't even notice a loss of any black-level detail in HD).

A great value
First of all, let me get the cons out of the way. This is a pretty heavy TV! However, the build quality feels solid. Also, as another reviewer has mentioned, there is quite a lag between turning the TV on and the display turning on. The power switch also seems buggy. If I unplug the AC and plug it back in (or if the power goes out in my house), the TV will not turn on. (the trick is to watch the blue LED on the front of the TV - the light turns off when the TV powers on and stays on while it is powered off). This is corrected by flipping the power switch on the back of the TV off and back on.
The above is an annoyance and easily correctable. However, someone that is unable to figure this out could assume that the unit is defective.
The actual picture quality that you get for the money outways the above problems though. I use this TV for many different purposes: gaming, watching cable TV (SD and HD), and watching movies. It excels at all of these. Gaming is very important to me, and ghosting or lag in a TV would kill the deal for me. Fortunately, there are zero issues in this area with the 542I. I regularly play Nintendo Wii and Gamecube games on this TV, and have used it with the XBox 360 as well. Each systm looks and plays terrific.
Another area that this TV excels in is connectivity. It has a lot of options from standard A/V composite, to S-Video, Component, HDMI, VGA, and Coaxial for cable or antenna if you need that (note, the TV includes a built in HD TV tuner). It also includes digital audio output. The TV is also firmware upgradable - not something you would necessarily expect at this price point.
The TV is very attractive in person, especially with the speakers removed. It is vertically adjustable on its stand, or can be removed from the stand altogether and be mounted on a wall.
Finally, while it's configuration menus are not anything special, there are a lot of display options. Once you figure out the navigation scheme, it's fairly easy to get around.
The bottom line for this TV is that it is a great value. It looks as good, if not better than most LCD's out there, even those costing much more. It is a good display for video gaming as well.

Fantastic value!
My first HDTV, and it looks awesome!! I am very happy with the decision I made to purchase it. Only two issues:
1) I have an HDTV ready cable box (Comcast), and I originally hooked up the TV to the box with a regular coaxial cable. The picture quality was only so-so. Then, I purchased an HDMI cable (about $70), and the difference was amazing. I strongly recommend the HDMI cable to maximize your picture.
2) I have to re-program my 3-year old to keep him from touching the screen. At least he does not eat peanut butter . . .