Vizio E701i-A3 Owners Thread - Page 28

Originally Posted by blackssr 

Does the TV need to be on to receive update? I have been on 1.1.4 since I purchased 1 month ago. Any way to manually install?

Originally Posted by Diversion 

New owner of a E701i-A3 here.. Took a gamble.. I wanted to get the Sharp but the price different was too enticing... Got it home and saw no flash lighting or unevenness anywhere.. Used Cnet's calibration settings and it looks much better.. I think for the money it provides a fantastic picture..

Originally Posted by BobNilsen 

Ours notified us that we had been updated when turning the TV on this afternoon. My guess is that upgrades come in while the TV is "off"

Originally Posted by andy sullivan 

I'm not saying that you're incorrect about the local dimming but I scanned the 55 reviews on Amazon, read the CNET review and read the information on the Vizio web site and nowhere are the words "local dimming" mentioned concerning the M3D651SV. It is 3D and it is a simulated 240hz and it weighs over 100lbs. The "local dimming" feature is much ballyhooed by Sony with their two or three flagship "full array local dimming" models as is the Elite from Sharp. From what I've seen this feature (full array local dimming) is a major major item that no manufacture would fail to shout from the roof tops. The reason given as to why more of these type sets aren't out there is purely financial. Better PQ for sure but at a pretty high price jump. The powers that be know exactly where their bread is buttered. They feel that regular edge lit is OK and OK keeps the sales going. The new for 2013 Vizio 70" "edge lit local dimming" TV will be scrutinized to death by the reviewers and they will anticipate mediocre performance. But, if it shines, Vizio will set a major new technological bar for all other manufactures to aspire too (PQ wise). I hope it shines big time.

Originally Posted by blackssr 

I got the update last night. When I turned TV on this morning I was notified that the update had been done. Any confirmation on what this update addresses? I called Vizio and the rep said that he is not given that info.

Originally Posted by indept 

The rep at Vizio told me it addressed shuddering (or shuttering whichever spelling is correct) & lip sync issues.

Originally Posted by alaskajoel 

Is there a secret to fixing it, or finding a serial number more likely to not have them?

PS: Loading up my tacoma with a big TV to return is no fun at all.

Originally Posted by rickie 

I'm surprised that Vizio didn't make more effort to highlight their local dimming feature for the M3D651 as well. It was certainly one of the reasons I went with it instead of the e Ser.

Vizio doesn't use the term local dimming, the use the term Smart dimming. But if you look at the definition of Smart dimming, (not to be confused with the ambient light sensing). it is local dimming. here is Vizio's explanation of Smart dimming:

you have to read through their "Learn More" links:

"...LED backlighting delivers a stunning, more evenly lit picture in a stylishly slim frame. Its brilliance is enhanced on select models with intelligent Smart Dimming™ zones that adapt to surrounding brightness for stunning realism that’s also more energy-efficient........"

the M3D651 has Smart dimming as part of their feature set. I read somewhere else that their were 32 zones, but I don't recall where I got that.

Thanks
Rick

Originally Posted by BDUB619 

Does it kind of look like a light stain on the back panel? If so, mine has this too. I returned my last one to Costco because it had this, and now my new one is worse (Serial #03) has 3 of them! Very faint, only noticable on a light color or white background when screen is panning from side to side, but I see it and it drives me nuts. Very frustrated. I'm lightly massaging the screen every couple days and hoping the TV will break in and this will fade away. I'll give it 3 more weeks, if it's still there, I'm throwing in the towel and taking back, will stick with my 60" SONY LCD until the next Black Friday or Super Bowl sale.

Originally Posted by dpiantino 

It does look like a stain, or the panel is warped or something. However it is unnoticeable during normal tv viewing unless I get an all white screen. I've also noticed that the longer I use the tv. the more happy I am with the picture. I notice less uniformity issues now that I have some hours on the set. My inlaws arrived yesterday and they kept commenting on how great the picture looks.

Originally Posted by patrascu 

Yes. A stain is a better description. That's exactly what I was talking about. Sooner or later, everyone who uses the TV as a monitor will see it (after which, it can't be unseen). If you only use it as a TV, you may never see it... so I wouldn't worry about it in that circumstance.

Originally Posted by BDUB619 

Completely agree. Most may not see it if only using as TV. But for gaming/PC usage, it's noticable. And distracting. And disappointing. Even the display model at my Costco has it. Someone mentioned in an earlier post it was very noticable on hockey games (white ice, screen panning) and I saw it there too. My first 2 E701's didn't have this, these last 2 do. Almost like a curtain stain on the back of the screen. Not acceptable.

Originally Posted by falconman515 


Here's hoping the new 70" M-Series TV comes out in the next couple months during my 90 day return period.

Originally Posted by blackssr 

I wish vizio would make a public definitive firmware update list of fixes and also make it optional or at least user installed. Sometimes firmware fixes address issues/problems and create others.

Originally Posted by BDUB619 

You musta been reading my mind!! The M-Series looks AMAZING

Originally Posted by indept 

Which M series have you seen, I would like to see an M3D651SV to see if it looks better than the 701 but nobody stocks them to see.
Do they suffer from the "light stains" mentioned above, my 701 has them but it's subtle, but once you see them you always see them. I watch hockey so it does matter.

Originally Posted by falconman515 

The new M-Series TV's have not yet been released ... they are slated for first half (some say first quarter) .... I sure hope this thing comes out in the next 2 months.

Check it out ........... http://www.vizio.com/ces#!/hdtvm

This Bad Boy Is MINE if it releases soon.

Originally Posted by indept 

So the M series you speak of is different from the "M3D651SV" M series?

Originally Posted by andy sullivan 

If they are edge lit local dimming the PQ should be better if only because of better black levels and screen uniformity. Are they going to be 4K? If so that would be huge because of the advantage of passive 3D on the PQ level of current active 3D.

Originally Posted by MrAdventure 

I was all set to go with the Sharp LC-70LE8470u at Costco yesterday, but when I went yesterday, they had the E601i-A3 sandwiched between the 8470u and the earlier 6400u, and the image quality that I saw on the Vizio unit was better than either Sharp, which seemed washed out, by comparison. I was able to go reset all three TVs back to default settings, and interestingly, the 6400u looked a lot better than the 8470u did, but the Vizio looked even better, more natural, IMO. I realized I could sacrifice 3D for the price break.

Setup was trivial, and I will eventually try the recommended settings, but so far, so good. At present, all the sources go directly to the TV, with audio going back to my receiver via the analog cables, though I'll try the optical out once I find my cable. The main video source is a TiVo HD unit putting out 1080i, and aside from some minor appearance of the Soap Opera Effect, I'm pleased. I also played some Xbox, and that was good, too. I may go back and try the recommended settings from earlier in the thread, but it's not high on the list..

Prior to this, I was using a Samsung DLP hl67a510, but apparently, the color wheel died, so it wasn't worth replacing.

Couple things - there was no manual besides the quick start guide, though I did find the full brochure in the menus. I was a little sad to see that Youtube wasn't a default app, but it was available in the 'store'. Beyond that, I am hoping that the plasticy/outgassing smell will not last too long, as it is a bit strong. Anyone else notice it?

Originally Posted by lorenzeami 

Regarding the outgassing, my wife was complaining and opening the windows for the first two weeks. I mentioned it to Vizio support and they said that nobody had every complained before. They emphasized if it was a burnt smell to shut down the tv and call right away.

And for the record they also weren't aware of the whites not being as brilliantly white as the M650VSE that I had side-by-side with the E701i-A3. (This was with CNet's settings). Now that I've tweaked it with DigitalVideoEssentials, THX config, Avia DVDs and especially the AVS Forum calibration tools I'm almost 100% satisfied with the overal picture quality - just wish the black was darker.

Originally Posted by indept 

I had noticed an "electronic" smell almost like a very faint burning resistor but not quite the same. This seemed to happen less and less the first week I had the TV, now it's gone (at 2 weeks). I still may take Vizio up on their special on extended warranties from 2 years (past initial year warranty) for $89 to 4 years additional for $149 (last day, Feb 28).

As for picture quality, I've been doing my own experimenting and am very happy with the picture.
Now I have a question, How many owners use the "built in" picture modes (Vivid, Standard, Movie, and a few sports modes). I find they are not very good as they come set. I have contemplated returning my TV for a refund because they have Baseball, Basketball, Football, & Golf modes but I'm a Hockey fan and they don't have a mode for us... Those Bastages... . They must not sell many TVs in Canada.