1080p HDTV and the Westinghouse LVM-37w3
Posted by Andy Atkinson on 07/5/06 in Hardware, Review
High-definition television has been rolling out across the United States over the last several years, slowly penetrating the US television market. My experience is that the average US Midwest consumer finds the monthly cost of HD programming from cable companies like Comcast to be quite expensive, and the content that is available in high-definition sparse. Over-the-air (OTA) tuners offer a few channels of HD programming for free, but reception is limited to metropolitan markets and programming is often limited to only a handful of channels. Television is not the only type of content that can utilize the extra resolution of high-definition displays however. Computers have been operating at higher resolutions than television almost as long as they’ve existed. Now that traditional, living-room televisions are capable of displaying higher-resolution content, convergence between computer and television displays is happening among certain display technologies like LCDs.
The LED Westinghouse logo can be turned off (glows blue)
Remote has useful features like dedicated input buttons, and a button to cycle through backlight brightness levels
HDTV purists will argue that high-definition starts at 1080p. The “p” stands for progressive and simply means there are actually 1080 (in this case) horizontal lines of resolution. Nearly every HDTV that is available in the US market as of July 2006 however operates at a lower resolution than this, generally “720p” or 720 lines of resolution. Simply put, this resolution is not sufficient for computer usage. In addition to be being “blessed” by HDTV purists, a 1080p display offers enough resolution to be used as a computer display. So what options are available at your typical electronics store (Best Buy) in the 1080p display technology department? At the time of this writing, the enormous and expensive US $3000+ Sony SXRD series of rear-projection displays, sized at 50″ and above, weighing 100 pounds or more, count as one option. Is there anything else that is thinner, lighter, less expensive, and still offers 1080p resolution? Enter the Westinghouse LVM-37w3.
Unreal Tournament 2003 demonstrating the 4:3 pulldown
Priced at US $1500 or lower, the <50 pound 37″ 1080p LCD offers some impressive statistics, such as 8ms response time and 550cd/m^2. Translation? The panel is very bright, far brighter than most computer monitors out there, and offers 8ms response time, which is fast enough to show no visible ghosting or other artifacts in games like Unreal Tournament (I tested this myself with UT2003).
The Westinghouse LVM-37w3 is a fairly attractive panel, it’s no Apple Cinema Display, but there are some nice design elements, like down-firing speakers to eliminate visible front speaker grills, and Westinghouse chose to keep the depth of the stand and display minimal (around 6 inches in reality). What consumers will find most useful however, in my opinion, is the plethora of inputs. There are (2) DVI inputs (that are HDCP compatible for Windows Vista), (1) HDMI input, as well as a number of component, composite, S-Video and even an RGB input. I’ve got a DVI to HDMI cable that was cheap (around US $15) that would allow me to hook up any possible combination of cable tuner, receiver, DVD player, computer, laptop, Xbox, digital camera, etc., that I could think of. The Westinghouse LVM-37w3 is the smallest 1080p display available at the time of this writing. Note that computer monitors, such as the 24″ Dell 2407WFP are capable of displaying 1080p resolution (and even higher resolutions), but are marketed as computer displays first, and HDTVs second (if at all). Given this knowledge then, it’s clear that the space that separates HDTVs and computer monitors is dwindling.
Read the LVM-37w3 tech specs at westinghouse.com
DVD movies look great, can’t wait for high-definition moves, HD-DVD or Blu Ray.
Pixel count between displays
Let’s examine the pixel count and price of a number of 16:9 and 16:10 displays that are capable of a minimum of 1080p resolution. Dell generally provides high-quality displays at lower prices than competitors like Samsung, Viewsonic, and Apple.
- 24″ Dell 2407WFP operates at a native resolution of 1920×1200 pixels, or 2,304,000 pixels, for around US $800-$900
- 30″ Dell 3007WFP operates at a native resolution of 2560×1600, or 4,096,000 pixels. Note that to achieve such a high resolution, “Dell recommends pairing it with a dedicated high-end video card from NVIDIA and ATI”, and that you shell out around US $2200
- 37″ Westinghouse LVM-37w3 operates at a native resolution of 1920×1080, or 2,073,600 pixels, for around US $1400-$1500
Note that at the time of this writing, in the 23″ to 50″ display products marketed as televisions on Dell.com, Dell does not offer a 1080p display, instead offering at best a “720p” display operating at a native resolution of 1366×768, or 1,049,088, or over 1 million pixels less of resolution from a 1080p display.
For another treat, Microsoft has released a series of short video clips, some available in true 1080p (1920×1080) resolution, to be a HDTV showcase. The screens below show some scenes from the IMAX “Speed” movie.
Above: Clips from IMAX Speed presentation in 1080p on Windows HD Showcase
Between the three options presented above, the Westinghouse LVM-37w3 represents the best mix of price, size, and resolution. The fact that it maintains fast pixel refresh rates (8ms), has a plethora of inputs, and very high brightness levels, means the Westinghouse LVM-37w3 should go on your short list if you are in the market for a new 1080p high-definition display for your living room or your computer.
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Paul Chiu | Aug 4, 2006 | Reply
I have one of these LVM-37W3 on order as I type.
I have used several HP L2335 23″ LCDs over the last few years. When the HP L2335 came out, it was one of 3 that had 1920×1200 resolution, but the refresh was not anywhere near the 8ms of the Westy 37″. For most computer and HD cable box purposed; unless you’re using the L2335 for Need for Speed, the performance was fine. Bare in mind that any 1920×1200 rated computer monitor, like the Dell 2405 or the new DVI enabled 2407 will give you that black top and bottom bar when playing 1080p 1920×1080 video from Blu-Ray, HD-DVD, or HD cable boxes. Some may find that annoying. I am not one.
I am replacing one of my 23″ L2335 with the 37″ LVM-37W3 for the size, refresh rate, and gaming possibilities.
Paul
Andy Atkinson | Aug 7, 2006 | Reply
Just to be clear to other readers, the LVM-37W3 is not 1920×1200 but is in fact 1920×1080 (1080P). In my opinion this represents the best of the video world and computer world “fusion resolution,” because it eliminates black horizontal bars for most widescreen video but is still supported as a selectable resolution by ATI and nVidia video cards.
Anonymous | Aug 10, 2006 | Reply
Folks here should be aware of a long thread at AVSforum.com on the 37w3, mostly positive. Here’s the URL.
James Loud | Aug 10, 2006 | Reply
I have purchased the LVM-37W3 from Best Buy, but am having to wait 3 weeks for it to be shipped from Westinghouse since BB doesn’t carry any in their warehouses. Does anyone know of a retailer I could actually buy this from sooner? Are there any places that I oculd walk into and buy it and walk out of the store with it?
Andy Atkinson | Aug 10, 2006 | Reply
Hi James. In my area (Minnesota) I have not seen or heard about Westinghouse sold by anyone except Best Buy. Best Buy rep. told me that stock is extremely limited on this, so your wait time comes as no surprise to me. I picked mine up as an “open box item” because I had a strong feeling that it would not sit on the shelf long. The rep. informed me it had been on the shelf one day before I swung it to check it out. I had him hook up a computer to it with DVI, run it at native resolution, and I was sold.
James Loud | Aug 10, 2006 | Reply
When was this? Was there a time (possibly a few months back) that this TV was easy to get a hold of? Do you know why it is so limited now? Are they planning on discontinuing it already? I can’t quite figure out if I am too late, or too early on such a “state of the art” panel.
Andy Atkinson | Aug 10, 2006 | Reply
I first heard about this panel going on sale at Best Buy in late 2005. I first noticed on the shelves around January 2006. I purchased one mid-June 2006, and at that time he said stock was extremely limited. Even in the Minneapolis area where Best Buy has many stores (founded here) it sounded like each store would only carry a couple. This is likely due to Westinghouse not producing enough to meet demand, more than Best Buy not carrying enough, although this is only my guess. We’re not dealing with a “Dell” here, so I’m sure Westinghouse is reluctant to produce more than it needs, plus low supply helps drive demand so it’s a win-win for them (unless they are seriously under-forecasting). If you don’t need an LCD necessarily, I saw a Samsung 1080P DLP for US $1500 that I believe was 50″ (and about 10 inches deep).
James Loud | Aug 10, 2006 | Reply
Thats ok. I think I saw the one you are reffering to at Tigerdirect.com . I have already waited 10 days for the W3, so I might as well wait it out at this point. I am very impatient I know, but I just can’t wait to see it more than anything. I mean, I have never bought a TV before without even seeing it in person. Plus, I am anxious to see how bad the ghosting that I have read about is. From what I hear, it really isnt bad.
Paul Chiu | Sep 1, 2006 | Reply
It has been nearly 3 weeks since my delivery of the LVM-37W3 from BUY.com
So far, I have tried just about every input except the VGA and they all work, but do not look the same.
Some key findings for those on the fence.
PROS
DVI or HDMI with Windows XP Pro SP2 and the right 1080p drivers will yield rock solid video with no artifacts. It is as good if not better than all the Apple Cinemas I have used in the past up to the latest 30″ It is the same as my HP L2335 23″ LCD which was 1920×1200. The Westy is faster, better color, and seems almost 3 times larger
fan is very quiet inside
CONS
Paul
Danny NYC | Oct 1, 2006 | Reply
Planning on using a lcd tv to replace my nice(but now broken) 19′monitor,I spent almost 2 weeks of intense homework trying to figure out all about it,since it didnt take long for me to find out the stuff about resolution for computer use (I’ll use it PRIMARILY as a pc monitor)and I was very disapointed with the results,not many options on the 1920×1080 out there. I found plenty good 32′(one Samsung with 4000:1 contrast ratio),but resolution stopped at 1366×768,wich I wasnt sure how that was going to be like when playing Flight Simulator or browsing the net.So,your review was a decisive point,because I could actualy SEE how it is as a computer monitor…hope it all be ok,specialy with the Flight Simulator,is important for me to have the instrument panel on the airplanes on a big scale to make it more realistic… Now,will my modest FX5200 video card be able to “handle it”? I’m a lay tech person,so I need some help here..Thanx a lot
Andy Atkinson | Oct 1, 2006 | Reply
Your FX5200 video card will be handle the panel, but you’ll want to consider upgrading if you are a serious gamer. If you are dropping hundreds of dollars on a new LCD, why not spend 100 and get a nice (slightly older) newer video card? Remember you are only driving 1920×1080 resolution here, which basically any video card can handle. You’d only have to worry about resolution when you get into a 30″ Apple Cinema Display or similar product. With a newer card, you’ll get HDTV resolution support out of the box in the driver software.
Mo | Oct 17, 2006 | Reply
I sure hope someone can help me with this because I’m about ready to take my new 32” Westinghouse LCD TV back to the store. This is a GREAT TV in all aspects but one. When there is a close up of a person (usually with dark skin) the image moves irratically. When a person turns their head their forehead stays in one place while their eyes and nose moves. Then the forehead catches up. Sometimes it’s just the eyes that jerk back and forth. This is actually somewhat scary and makes me nauseous. Something like when an earthquake happens. I’m sure it has something to do with pixel speed but no one seems to be able to help. Is there a way I change the pixel speed or resolution? Or is there some other problem? Thanks
James Elwell | Oct 19, 2006 | Reply
I have just recieved this incredible monitor. I purchased it from Newegg for $1200 including shipping which was an incredible deal in my opinion. It arrived two days later. I live in Des Moines, Iowa.
All games play pefectly, the screen is super bright. Games being planetside, WOW, EQ2, Total War, HF2, Farcry to name a few.
I just wanted to post that this forum helped me make the decision to purchase and that this display is everything it says it is. My old unit was a sceptre 37″ which was nice but produced tons of graphic distortions and was much more expensive. Don’t go with the sceptre unit.
James
Andy Atkinson | Oct 20, 2006 | Reply
That’s great James. $1200 is a deal indeed. As of this writing NewEgg carries the panel for US $1300 which is still the lowest price for a 1080p of this size that I’ve seen (for the US). Westinghouse should (or their supplier) should partner with Dell and really drive the prices down! Photos, videos, games, anything visual on the computer is so much better at this size. It’s good to see NewEgg is carrying Westinghouse products. Westinghouse got the design right (improvement over LVM-37W3) with their new 46″ 720p model. Good thing NewEgg carries a Westinghouse Salad Spinner…wtf?!
Andy Atkinson | Nov 26, 2006 | Reply
Crutchfield is taking preorders for LVM-37w3 LCD for $999. That is a great price! Plus free shipping! 400 dollar discount.
See the deal
Crutchfield LCD page
Karen | Dec 7, 2006 | Reply
Hi,
I bought this TV monitor to use as a computer monitor. The highest resolution I can chooose is 1400 x 1050 and this is really not good enough to use as a computer monitor.
Is this an issue with my computer/video card that i need to address? Is there a special driver for this monitor?
Thanks in advance.
Andy Atkinson | Dec 8, 2006 | Reply
Hi Karen. First: are you sure you have the 37w3 and not a lower resolution Westinghouse panel? Westinghouse also makes “720p” panels that support a maximum resolution of somewhere around 1280×720. If you are sure of the model number, then the resolution limit is either imposed by your hardware or software. I have an ATI 9600 video card (several years old) with latest Windows XP drivers and it is able to output 1920×1080 resolution. LCD panels really only have one optimal resolution, also called the native resolution. Not only is running at 1400×1050 too low for day to day use, you are experiencing a grainy or fuzzy image because the panel is not running in the native resolution. If you have an Nvidia or ATI video card, please update the drivers to the latest version. If that doesn’t work, then upgrade your video card or add one if you do not have one (integrated video processing) to experience the full capability of your new LVM-37W3.
Luke Koch | Jan 2, 2007 | Reply
I got my Westy for 699 from NFM in late Nov. with a five year warrenty for 149. Total was 908 with tax!
Joe | Jan 5, 2007 | Reply
I want to use this mainly as a TV. I have looked tirelessly at many LCD TVs and decided it would be an easy thing for me to give up the tuners LCD TVs have for the 1080p of this monitor since I have an external satellite box. I am definitely upgrading to DirecTV HD so that it is ready to go when I get my new TV, so I will have an HD source, but my concern is that a lot of the satellite programming out there is still in SD. Will this monitor display those channels any more poorly than an LCD HDTV, for example the Westy LTV-37w2 HD? I can’t imagine that it would. Is the only difference really just the DVI inputs and lack of tuners on this monitor?
Don T. | Jan 11, 2007 | Reply
I planned on buying a 24″ widescreen lcd, until I stumbled upon a 80+ page thread about the Westy used a a VERY nice pc monitor over at Hardocp.com. After reading all the posts of real world , real people absolutely loving this Monitor being used a PC Display, I have stumbled my way around the net and rad many that repeat the praise! SO, I have the cash now and just itching to pull the trigger on the purchase. Sadly though, of course prices are back up to the 1099-1500 range, and availability is limited. Also, someone just posted today comeing back from CES, that indeed, Westinghouse is discontinuing this Monitor. How insane is that? Unless Westinghouse took a lot of heat from the panel manufacturers for offering this alleged gem at such reasonable pricing!
Several eTailers show in stock, but it’s really hard to determine who is reputable, as all these sites have plenty of ” they said it ws in stock, they hit my card on order, only to wait weeks and then find out they didn’t have and wait weeks more for my refund ” type reviews. I would much rather be able to get in store, but you pay a hefty premium for that priveledge! And most don’t have it. Newegg posts they expect some availability on 1/14, and they seem to be one the absolute best rated sites, so I think I’ll hold the few days more, next would be Mwave I guess. buydig and buy.com all seem to have sketchy reviews.
I really want to get this before they permanently dry up, as they appear to be going away, and something this nice may not be ever avail a gain at this price point!
I enjoyed the reviews posted here, so I thought I would share my hope!
Andy Atkinson | Jan 12, 2007 | Reply
Hi Don T. First of all, I’ve learned that there is always a “deal” with electronics depending on timing, convenience, and a number of other factors. The 600 dollar price someone mentioned above was rare and no reputable retailer could afford to offer these panels for that price if they were buying them from Westinghouse for more. Deals are all relative to current supply, and 1080p panel production has greatly increased in 2006.
Regarding your specific concerns though: NewEgg is a good retailer, I’ve been buying products from them since 2000. I like Buy.com as well. Mwave I’ve had bad experiences with, but they are well established and I’d be comfortable buying from them if the deal was right personally. Have you trolled Best Buy stores looking for open box returns of this monitor? The upcoming Superbowl sales season might product some returns to Best Buy as well, though no guarantees here. Also you might want to check out Vizio’s 1080p panels, though I think they start at around 1900 for 47″ (but they will offer HDCP support for Windows Vista where the LVM-37W3 does not). Vizio displays can be seen in person at Sam’s Club (and probably other discount retailers like Costco). Westinghouse still produces the least expensive 37″ 1080p display. Buy.com has it for 1200 shipped as of this writing. For some other ways to save money on tech you may not know, check my article Tech on the Cheap.
Don T | Jan 13, 2007 | Reply
Thanks for the reply Andy, I will read your “Tech On the Cheap”
Yea..obviously the 600$ was below cost…or something..unreasonable for such a device. I am prepared to pay $1200 if necessary, as this Monitor is the ONLY one I want atm. You see, I am buying it 99% for use as my main display for a new Custom PC I got from Maingear, 8800gtx, etc.
So, the 47 and really even the 42 are over the top size wise; they would require a much bigger than a desk’s distance seating to loose the pixalation. I am looking for a immersive sized monitor to game ( EverQuest1 and WoW..etc ) I had planned on a 24″ widescreen…as I said, but then read about the Westy 37″. Of course, I’ll probably connect my HD cable to it as well, just for the fun of a PiP of news, sports etc, all while playing EQ at 1920×1080 37″ goodness!
I thought he LVM-37w3 had HDCP support? hmm.. well..really..no worries as If I want to watch DVD, I use the 50″ Sony. SO this is alla bout the best reviewed super sized PC Display available. I could get a Dell 30″.. but 2056×1600 would require me playing EQ in a window, and I am a fullscreen type of guy
Although, ya know..maybe I should investigate that. I could play in window, and still have real estate for a browser open, IM App, etc… hmmm. Have any experience with the Dell 30″?
Thanks again Andy!
Don T | Jan 19, 2007 | Reply
Well, I decided, ordered from buydig.com, and received it today! WOW! Completely and totally amazing! Got it for 1199 + 69 For a monstor 2m dvi and 129 for 3 year extd warranty. total was 1379 shipped and all. Arrived dbl boxed which saved it, as the outer box was a little crimped, but the inner actual Westy box was pristine.
This Monitor is truly amazing! HUGE! crisp, clean.
Iba | Jan 22, 2007 | Reply
Hello. I have an ati 9600xt 256 and all i saw in the catalyst control center was 1080i. how would i connect it to the tv with dvi? or hdmi? and how do i get 1080p with my 9600?
Charles E | Feb 15, 2007 | Reply
Iba,
You want to use the DVI or VGA connection type to run this TV off your video card.
I’d also like to point out that this review was fantastic. I’ve been reading about this TV for nearly a month. I plan to order it in 2 weeks. Can’t wait!