One of the many perks of this job is that I can call in just about anything DVD- or home entertainment-related and give it a thorough analysis. I often listen to friends and family to see what sort of gear they're in the market for. I also look to my own home and my own electronic needs for inspiration. Having just moved into a new home in Connecticut this week, my mind is spinning as to how I can best outfit the house to make our lives more convenient. Not too long ago, I worked in a high-end home theater shop that sold everything from cables to complete theaters. Yet, the one product that received the most consistent praise and "We need one of those!" comments was an under-the-cabinet LCD TV for the kitchen. Well, our new kitchen has a perfect spot for such a device, and V, Inc. has an ideal candidate for the job. The Vizio L13 LCD is a small, stylish display that's sure to turn your kitchen area into a conversation piece.

Unique Features - Although the L13 comes packaged with an attractive tabletop stand, I suspect most folks looking for a 13-inch television want it for their kitchen. The included stand is removable, and V, Inc. sells an optional under-the-cabinet mount for $79 which is easily mounted to the back side of the display. The mount is available in either black or white and allows you to fold the L13 up under the cabinet when it's not in use (see photo). The mount kit allows for 180 degrees of side-to-side movement; this is especially handy for LCD devices which tend to lose their punch quickly when you venture too far off-axis.

On the back side of the display, you have several options for making your A/V connections. The L13 features a standard coaxial input with a built-in NTSC tuner for traditional cable. Also available is composite, S-Video and component video connections. This bevy of inputs raises the L13 above many small televisions on the market. The L13 does not accept a progressive signal, but you can certainly connect it to the interlaced output from a cable box, satellite receiver or DVD player. Two audio inputs are also available for these non-coaxial connections. Sound is provided by a pair of side-mounted stereo speakers.

Many small televisions, especially flat panels, do not include speakers. If they do, it's often an add-on module sold separately. V, Inc. has built the L13 with column speakers flanking the 13-inch display, and they are better than many I've heard of similar size. While watching The Lion King DVD, I had the L13's volume pegged at maximum for a good five minutes and I did not detect any crackle or cutouts. At moderate volumes, the L13's speakers are more than sufficient and they actually sound considerably less tinny than I expected. The speakers, like the rest of the display, have an easy-to-clean titanium finish.

Installation/Setup/Ease of Use - V, Inc. packages the L13 in an easy-to-unpack Styrofoam enclosure. The unit comes out of the box with the stand already attached but, like I said, this is removable if you opt for the mounting kit. Apart from plugging the set in and making the basic A/V connections, there really isn't much else to it. The L13 is ready to roll within minutes of opening the box. The only problem I encountered during setup was the complete lack of sound when using the component video input. (The Lion Kings "Circle of Life" opening number is considerably less moving without sound.) It took me a few minutes to realize that you have to use "Audio Input 2" instead of "1" for the component video. The manual does label that input as "YCrCb-Audio Input," but it would have been nice to see that label on the display itself. It had me scratching my head for several minutes. Inside the box, you'll find a well-illustrated user manual with instructions on removing the tabletop stand and using the display's various on-screen menus. The on-screen menus are bland but intuitive and easy to use. Navigation using the supplied remote control is easy enough, though the channel and volume buttons were in an odd spot and could stand to be a little bigger. Also, considering that there are only four selectable inputs, it might be nice to see one-button access for each of these on the remote.

Final Take - Watching The Lion King and portions of Miracle on the L13 was an enjoyable experience. With the sharpness turned way down and colors tweaked a bit, picture quality was perfectly acceptable. As with most LCDs, blacks were the weak spot, and the black bars above and below Miracle were more of a dark grey. Colors looked accurate for the most part and there was minimal shimmer or motion artifacts when using the component video connection. As I mentioned earlier, sound quality is above average and more than sufficient for casual viewing while you're cooking or entertaining.

Like any LCD, picture quality suffers if you watch at too close a distance. When my eyes were at least three feet from the screen, it was very difficult to discern any sort of pixel matrix. However, once I moved closer, the "screendoor effect" did kick in a little and I could faintly see the display's pixel grid. This shouldn't be
an issue, since very few people (except my friend Tom) sit within inches of their TV.

Overall, I think the L13 is a great little TV for the money. Say goodbye to those bulky CRTs and see why LCD is all the rage lately. With the L13 and its optional mounting kit, V, Inc. has put together a great package for casual viewing in the kitchen. Everyone congregates in the kitchen at family gatherings anyway, so what better place for a small LCD? A year from now, I'd be complaining that this set isn't 16:9, but with cable still the predominant source of television in most homes, the L13 makes sense. Add one to your kitchen and see how many people say, "We need one of those!" Now if only it could do the dishes...

Vizio L13 LCD Television
13-inch TFT Display
4:3 Aspect Ratio
640(H) x 480(V) Resolution
Contrast Ratio: 500:1
Brightness: 450 ccl/m2
Response Time: 22ms (typical)
Speakers: 2.5 W x 2
Tilt: +20°/-5°
13 5/8"H x 16 25/32"W x 7 11/16"D
Weight:13 lbs.
MSRP: $449