Official Vizio XVT3Dxx0CM 21:9 CinemaWide Owner's Thread - Page 5

Set up the Panasonic TC-P60UT50 this afternoon. Picture quality is amazing. I would strongly recommend anyone who payed $1300 for the cinema wide to take it back and pick up one of these plasmas for the same price. Good luck to all of you who decide to keep the set:).

I'm leaning toward keeping the XVT. I totally see why you'd return it if the 'milky' blacks bother you (I do notice them) but they don't bother me when I'm really into a movie and I don't think there's other comparable HDTV out there with this good a 3D display and PIP options galore for the money. Enjoy your Panny plasma kawika4.

I also had concerns about black level of LCDs and seriously considered plasmas. But then I got a Sharp 60-incher edge-lit LED which, to me, had excellent blacks and led me to believe that current LCD/LEDs had more than acceptable black levels in general. So I didn't even worry about black level of Vizio Cinemawide.

To my dismay, when I got the Cinemawide, I couldn't even come close to replicating the black level of my Sharp, which is an older model. Cinemawide's blacks, as dad1153 said, were "milky" and dark grey at best. By turning down the backlight and adding bias light, I managed to get the perceived blacks to my acceptable level but I cannot help feeling a bit disappointed in Vizio for not being able to come close to my mid-tier Sharp TV's picture quality in their top-tier XVT line, contrary to what Cnet said in its review.

I like the unique aspect ratio of Cinemawide and it does do a passable job as "movie" TV well enough that I am going to keep it. But it does have occasional unexplained misfires so I will definitely get an extended warranty.

I managed to update the PS3's OS today, so finally got to test the 3D Blu-ray display (can't take pictures of that though). The PS3 even detected that my HDTV was 58" and asked if I wanted to adjust to display for a TV that size. As expected, with a direct HDMI connection to the Vizio the 3D effect and sharpness were noticeably better than the 1080i 3D from cable, though not by leaps and bounds. While still showing the typical 'passive' tell-signs (slightly lower-res textures and seldom-seen horizontal lines) I liked what I saw.

I used Warner's "Green Lantern" because it's the only 3D movie I have that is 2:35:1 (all the others are 1:78:1 or 1:85:1) and I had only seen the 2D extended edition on BD. Except for a couple of times where faint outlines of vertical lines were seen during fast-moving scenes (around where the edge of the screen would appear if the XVT were displaying a 1:33:1 image) and the 'milky' blacks making the outer space scenes look a little more grey/purple than black (good enough for me, obviously not good-enough for kawika4) I liked it a lot... the 3D effect that is, not the movie (duh!). And during the entire length of "Green Lantern" I didn't experience a single drop-out or switch back to 16:9 until I switched the display back to 'Normal,' so knock on wood. Textures were colorful and the immersion was comparable to theatrical 3D flicks I've seen (although no one would confuse my Vizio's 3D with an IMAX screen). 3D was a big selling point for me getting the XVT, and so far its living up to the hype.

More to come.
Edited by dad1153 - 12/20/12 at 8:59pm

 

Alright DAD!!  Glad to hear you finally updated your PS3 dude.  Next up - a little bit of gaming perhaps?  Multiple systems maybe?  I'd REALLY like to see some Uncharted 3 IF you have it.

 

A guy can dream, can't he?  

 

Stay tuned boys and girls!!  

Edited by thebesthereis - 12/21/12 at 5:04pm

I've had by eye on this since the 2011 trade shows. I fire up the ol' computer tonight and there it is on Amazon for an stunning price.

$999 + free shipping w/ Prime. Couldn't resist.

Guess I'm off to find a 3D Blu-Ray player.

^^^ Rats, I had to pay a hundred bucks for shipping and I do have Prime. Just curious, what's the shipping charge amazon has if you're not a Prime member? Also, if you have a friend or relative that has a PS3 with up-to-date OS and 3D-compatible HDMI cables (I got two from amazon for around 11 bucks), you can use that as your BD player. Might want to go to Best Buy and check some 3D movies they have on sale for Christmas (the last two-part "Harry Potter" movie, for example, for 15 bucks each). Welcome to the cult.

I was curious over the weekend how the XVT would handle 1:33:1 material since a lot of the stuff I own (classic TV, older/foreign/classic movies on Criterion DVD/Blu-ray, etc.) is framed in that aspect ratio and the normal 'stretch' for 16:9 TV's still leaves black bars on the XVT's 21:9 screen. I found that, depending on the resolution of the 1:33:1 material being shown, the XVT will stretch the picture differently. With high-def 1:33:1 material (1080p, 1080i and 720p) the XVT will stretch the image corner-to-corner, which it doesn't do with standard-def (480i or lower) 1:33:1, at the expense of some of the image getting cut on all of the options. Let me show you.

Here's a TCM-HD recording (1080i with HDMI) on my DVR of Hiroshi Teshigahara's "Antonio Gaudi.".
Normal (original 1:33:1 AR):

Zoom 1 (same as the XVT's Stretch mode, except it expands 1:33:1 to approx. 1:85:1):

Zoom 2 (notice how the bottom row of teeth and upper part of the picture gets cut-off):


Here's an OTA broadcast of a Spanish station on 480i (use the logo on the right-lower corner of the screen as a guide). Bonus: notice how reflective the glossy screen of the XVT is at 10AM on my studio apartment from a window just to camera-left of the pictures (ouch).
Normal:

Zoom 1:

Zoom 2:


Here's the Sega Saturn (the first of many videogame systems that I'll be hooking up to the XVT over the coming weeks) hooked up to the XVT with a composite cable (which the XVT labels as '240p'). I turned game mode on and booted up "NiGHTS... Into Dreams," a game that requires precision timing when executing mid-air stunts to increase one's score. I've played this game to death since '96 and can honestly say that only my old Sony XBR tube TV (which I've kept around precisely to play older game systems) had better response time than what the XVT gave me. My still-working 747i definitely has a little more lag than the XVT even though the 747i was labeled as having a 4m response time and the XVT is supposedly 5m. Please note: activating other features on the XVT (apps, the PIP/POP options, etc.) disables the Game Mode and increases lag, which affects some games more than others. "NiGHTS," for example, was still playable while PIP was activated; other games' precise controls went to s*** while PIP/POP were on.
Normal:

Zoom 1:

Zoom 1 (top; ignore the PIP, I was checking a sports score) and Zoom 2 (bottom; notice how the picture is cropped but, as with the Spanish TV station, there are still black bars on the screen):



While we're at it, how about a little more PIP/POP porn with our good friend the Sega Saturn?




Now, I found a trick to get the XVT to display 1:33:1 pictures (HD or SD) corner-to-corner: if your cable box or DVD/Blu-ray player has a zoom mode that expands a 1:33:1 picture to 1:85:1, you can then take that picture and apply 'Zoom 1' to get it to show the entire content corner-to-corner without getting the picture cut-off. Using this B&W full screen footage from a TCM-HD broadcast (use the TCM logo as reference):
Normal (1:33:1):

Cable box 'fattens' SD 1:33:1 to 16:9

Zoom 1 (voala, corner-to-corner 1:33:1 content without anything cut off)

Zoom 2 without the cable box expanding 1:33:1 to 1:85:1 (notice how the logo and trees on both sides are cut-off)


Next up: videogames and HD-DVD's. MORE TO COME.
Edited by dad1153 - 12/24/12 at 12:12am

Thank you kind sir!!  I was wondering how the XVT would handle this.  Puts a slight damper on things.   Given that you and I have the same 747i and we know what to expect regarding watching content that does not fill the screen as far as image retention bars being left on our screens, what are your expectations going forward with this set?

 

Looking forward to some more gaming pics. 

I don't know on non-Prime shipping.

Man, when I woke up just now, I thought I'd check to see if the deal was still active - but it looks like it is gone. When I ordered it said "11 left" and when I went to sleep it said "9 left". Now there's just a used one for $1800. Traditionally, I'm the snooze-lose guy. Dumb luck for once I suppose.

Sam's Club is the only link from Vizio's site which has it in stock. $988 + $99 shipping + $78 tax. Still darn good.
Edited by OconRecon - 12/24/12 at 2:10am

Except for the Dreamcast (wink, wink ) I expect to keep doing most of my SD gaming on the 27" XBR Trinitron tube TV I've kept, and what little gaming I do on HD systems will be on the XVT. The 747i is getting retention issues not because the sets were bad (if they were the banding would have started appearing right away when they were new) but because we've been using them for years and bars/scores 'burn in' a lot more easy now than they would on any new HDTV that isn't garbage (like the XVT, which Vizio saddled with an inferior panel and edge lit LED but it's still better than an Insignia or the no-name brands from Walmart or Radio Shack) that isn't prone to banding out of the gate (i.e. plasmas). I still use the 747i to watch primarily "Law & Order" and non-B&W 1:85:1 color stuff that doesn't show too much the now-permanent banding. So, yeah, three TV sets and all three will get a workout from me for as long as they work.

In the last batch of pics/opinios for a while (got to concentrate on enjoying the set for what I bought it for: anamorphic movies) I tried a few more precision-based games using Game Mode. I hooked-up a Dreamcast with a VGA adaptor (640x480 @ 60Hz), which is labeled 'RGB' on the XVT (even though there are separate component inputs), and the Vizio offered me only two screen-size options: Normal and Stretch. Control with Game Mode on was pretty good with just a little bit of lag that isn't death:
STREET FIGHTER III: 2nd IMPACT
Normal:


Stretch (still leaves thinner black bars on both sides):


THE TYPING OF THE DEAD
Normal:


Stretch:



"Typing" requires split-second of typing to get through to the latter levels, and the XVT's response time was pretty good. Same with "Hot Shots Golf" for PS3 (720p HDMI), a game that on my 747i I had some issues getting with the control even with that TV's Game Mode on.
Normal (yes, that's my thumb ):

Stretch:


Time for some splt-screen, PIP love with both the Dreamcast ("Space Channel 5") and PS3 (still "HSG") which threw control out the window for both games; when played individually each game's control was perfect:





That's it for now gang. Stay tuned for more pics, but not for a while. To those new to the XVT from the Costco and amazon deals, welcome to the cult.
Edited by dad1153 - 12/25/12 at 7:02pm

Good to see there is a cult.

Santa brought me Avatar 3D. Has anyone here watched it on this set?

Nice, thanks! 

 

And here I'm thinking I'm the only person on the planet that actually bought the Typing Of The Dead game (complete with Dreamcast keyboard). 

 

Nevertheless, cool pics.  Thanks for the show.

 

Does anyone have any info on Vizio releasing the larger size set in this series?  I am considering a purchase, but it would have to be the larger model.  Unfortunately, I've been hearing that it's release was doubtful. 

I think that's what we've all been hearing too. CES ought to tell us in early January.

Even if the 70" model came out it'd start at a much higher price than the $2,499 Vizio tried to sell the 58" set for when it first came out. Because, let's face it, until the XVT fell down to Earth between $999 and $1,499 it was comfortably sitting in warehouses. The fact Vizio is selling them at such discounts hints that the 21:9 XVT line, like the Olevia 747i, will be a one-of-a-kind.

Avatar is one of the best demo disc 3d or 2d. It's not ideal for this TV since you will either have to stretch the picture or have bars on the left/right since the movie is 16x9.

Thanks on the Avatar info. I'll have to research the ideal 3D movie for my maiden voyage.

Also, I'm replacing a 42" Vizio, wall mounted, with this set. I just browsed through the owner's manual on line, and can't determine if I'll need a new/wider wall mount bracket for this set. Anyone know the width of the mounting holes on the back of the CinemaWide?

----

Addendum: It looks like Prometheus 3D is 2.39:1. I have it, but haven't watched it yet. Heard it's not that great, but I heard that about Tron too, and it was actually pretty good.
Edited by OconRecon - 12/27/12 at 7:07am

^^^ Just keep your mind open (or closed if you're a diehard "Alien" fan) and you'll be OK. It uses 3D in subtle, none show-offy ways, and that's always appreciated because its the exception rather than the rule.

"Green Lantern" and the last two "Harry Potter" movies are also 3D and $14.99 each this week at Best Buy (while supplies last). One of them's not good and the other two are "Harry Potter" movies , but they'd fill up the 58" frame of the XVT. I wouldn't mind that "Avatar" is 1:78:1, although it sucks that there is a 2:39:1 version (the AR for the non-3D theatrical release of the movie) that has yet to make its way to home video. I trust Cameron enough when he says he covered the framing for both AR's (which is why I haven't gone ballistic that the "Titanic 3D" Blu-ray is 1:78:1 when the original movie was 2:35:1, which is why I'm keeping my "Titanic" DVD's) but it still kind-of sucks to get a 21:9 LED HDTV and the one movie that kick-started the whole 3D craze commercially can only be seen cropped in 1:78:1.

Hey, I forgot all about Potter. I already have that one in 3D. Thanks!

Is this normal on a black background?
LIghts on
Lights off
and is this the banding we are talking about?



I bought from sams so I have a 90 day return window let me know... thanx

@Drastik651

Unfortunately that's how mine looks as well when I first turn it on. That's called light bleeding and is rather endemic with edge lit LED TVs like Cinemawide. FWIW, Samsung, Sony, LG, etc. all suffer from it to various degrees.

One can mitigate the effect by turning down the backlight level and adjusting contrast/brightness. That's what I did. The light bleeding is only noticeable during the initial bootup and not noticeable during the movie, so I am okay with it.
Edited by Apostate - 1/5/13 at 2:02pm

The band is hard to see but is noticeable on an all white background its actually more like a bunch of them coming from the bottom up.. Im trying to like this tv but for price its worth as opposed to the flaws im catching in a short period, I dont know.. Sams said they will ship me out a new one and come pick up the other one, If that set doesnt work out then I guess its time to move onto a different set..

That's why I returned it and bought the panasonic 60 inch UT series plasma and I thought it was very noticeable during dark scenes while watching movies.

@Dad1153 It doesn't seem that your tv has this issue at all.. Maybe I just got a bad set.. FWIW I watched The Dark Knight Rises and it was HORRID... the dark film looked BAD. TOO much white in the corners.. in the scene where hes in his house and just got done ya know.. with the girl his skin was white... when he came toward the screen... That and the imax constant switching back and forth was a bit much.. Thinking this bad boy will go back and ill wait for a Panny Plasma as well.. or something simliar in PQ with passive 3d..(I have 4 kids, and they are reckless with glasses...) Any suggestions for a passive 3d led without the bleeding? Any help is appreciated THANX

^^^ All edge-lit LED sets have light-bleed in one degree or another, but yikes Drastik651, that looks really bad and extreme. I have my XVT in a room that's either off or has a CCFL room light. Yes, the TV does look very bright and milky-white when it's turned on. But when watching dark or contrasty stuff (like, for example, an episode of "I Love Lucy" or a space scene in "Star Wars"), the set's Backlight is adjusted properly and you sit as close to dead-center as possible (I know, lots of conditions) it looks dark-enough to not bother me. Then again, I know this set's blacks are way too light for most AVS Forum folks. For $1,000 though I think the XVT delivers the minimum (bordering on unacceptable) contrast and black levels needed for.

I agree...but anamorphic blurays shouldnt be 1920x1080 to begin with..most of that data is being used wasted for the freaking black bars on top and bottom....

its a shame when using blurays on a 21:9 tv, that it has to be zoomed in to fit it all....

how hard is to encode these blurays to 21:9 with native 2560 x 1080 resolution?
Edited by EndeaverouX - 1/10/13 at 9:14pm

Have mine hung and running. I'm in the club.

Listen, you are wrong with all due respect...it is not false advertisement....

this tv does have a native 2560x1080 resolution. But there is no content out there with that resolution. All commercial Bluray discs today are encoded at 1920x1080. so its normal that even a bluray disc will look blurry on this tv...

just like if you get a 480p sd dvd and play on your 16:9 hdtv...even though it fills the screen, it does look blurry....

so here's the solution....manufactures have to start encoding 21:9 bluray movies natively to 2560x1080 so everysingle pixel is used without stretching and blurriness....until then, your bluray movies wont look crisp as you anticipated....until 21:9 hdtvs become popular, i dont see mfct re encoding anamorphic blurays....which sucks....

these are the facts......any video geek will confirm what i just said....

to each its own...lol...

so by your logic, why even have a 16:9 tv? why not have a huge 4:3 old tv set, after all those black bars on the 4:3 never bothered anyone, right??? NOT.....remmber those days?

why do you think they came out with 16:9 tvs , so we could get the bars off those 4:3 tvs...

it just happens now that most movies are made in 21:9, not all but most....

it is all relative....lol....

Rejoice, friends! It looks like we have the genuine, one-of-a-kind, unique, never-to-be-seen-again TV set ever. There is nary a sight nor mention of ultrawide TVs from any brand at 2013 CES.

I, for one, am happy that I carped that diem.