Vizio M550NV RazorLED LCD HDTV Reviewed
- By: Adrienne Maxwell,
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Vizio's 2010 LCD lineup is perhaps its most ambitious yet, including a wide range of edge-lit and full-array LED models. The full-array models carry the TruLED moniker, while the edge-lit models sport the RazorLED tag. The M550NV is one of Vizio's newest top-shelf RazorLED models, and it features most of the company's advanced technologies and features. We have not performed a hands-on review of the M550NV, but here is an overview of the TV's features.This 55-inch, 1080p LCD uses edge LED lighting, in which the LEDs are placed around the screen's edges to allow for a slimmer design. The M550NV measures just 1.9 inches at its deepest part. An emerging trend in edge-lit designs is to add a form of local dimming in which independent zones can be dimmed or turned off to produce better blacks; Vizio uses that technology here, labeled Smart Dimming. This TV also uses 120Hz technology to reduce motion blur and film judder. You can add the M550NV to a home network via wired Ethernet or the integrated 802.11n WiFi system, and this TV includes the Vizio Internet Apps (VIA) Web platform, with access to Netflix, VUDU, Amazon VOD, Pandora, Rhapsody, Twitter and more. It comes with Vizio's special Bluetooth remote with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard for easier text input. The M550NV has EnergyStar 4.0 certification.
• Buy a Vizio M550NV At A Low Price Right From The Vizio Website.
The connection panel includes four HDMI inputs but only one component video input--a trend we're seeing with many new higher-end models. It also has a PC input and an RF input to access the internal ATSC and Clear-QAM tuners (picture-in-picture functionality is available). The HDMI inputs accept both 1080p/60 and 1080p/24 signals, and one is located on the side panel for easy access. Also on the side panel are three USB ports that support photo playback. The Ethernet port is located on the rear panel. The M550NV lacks an RS-232 or IR port for integration into an advanced control system.
The M550NV has a solid but not extensive array of picture controls, beginning with nine picture modes (four of which are tuned for sports programming). You get four color-temperature settings, including a custom mode through which you can adjust RGB gain and offset to dial in a more accurate white balance. The TV lacks advanced gamma control and a color-management system to individually fine-tune the six color points. Instead, you get a Color Enhancement system that lets you choose between five color palettes: Off, Normal, Rich Color, Green/flesh, and Green/blue. An ambient light sensor allows you to tailor the screen brightness to suit your environment. Noise reduction is available, as is a Smart Dimming control that lets you turn the zone-dimming function on or off. The 120Hz function is controlled by two menu options: Real Cinema and Smooth Motion Effect. The Real Cinema setting lets you dictate an initial setting of Off, Precision, or Smooth; then, the Smooth Motion Effect menu lets you dictate the level of intensity of the Smooth setting. Finally, the TV has five aspect-ratio options, including a Normal mode to view HD images without overscan and a newly added Zoom 1 mode to crop out extraneous noise when needed.
On the audio side, the setup menu includes five preset audio modes, plus a balance control, a lip sync function and an equalizer to fine-tune various frequencies. SRS TruSurround HD and SRS TruVolume are available. You can enable Bluetooth audio to send audio signals wirelessly to a set of Bluetooth headphones.
Read more about the high points and low points of the M550NV on Page 2.
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Comment on this article
This brand has a high return rate for product failures and poor service AFTER the purchase as well. I would never, ever invest this kind of money in this manufacture's products. Sony has the
best reputation for service after the purchase and a great picture.
I am confused first of all. I have a Vizio model number M550NV and it definitely says it is a full true array led not a razor edge lit led. Do they use the same model number for two different led feature sets?
This is my first LED LCD and it doesn't have as true an image in terms of color, detail and everything when displaying the Apple TV screen saver flower photos (for instance), as our previous Samsung LN52A5503PF. No matter what setting we use the default, custom or standard, or even movie (the least blue) all have a blue cast to them. We assume because of the LED lights having that bias. Do all LED's have this blue color bias or should we try different manufacturers such as Samsung or simply go back to a non LED LCD? We don't need the energy saving from an LED set that much, although we care about the environment while being more interested in still photography image quality as well as video in this instance of course.
We could sell this and get a Samsung 55 inch non LED LCD that might have a more desireable to us image quality. Why do we find the older 52" Samsung without the LED to have superior image quality to the LED Vizio given the Vizio's having a million to one contrast ratio with our previous Samung having a 30,000 to 1 ratio? Please don't simply tell us image quality is subjective, as I have been a professional still photographer.
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