Olevia 37" 720p LCD HDTV - 237T | List Price: $749.99
Discount Price: $749.99
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Brand: Syntax
Warranty: 1 year warranty
Features: - Rich Colors and Sharp Images
- 37" Screen LCD Flat Panel Television with LCD Technology for Crisp Images and Thin Design
- High Definition with Built-In HDTV/ATSC Tuner
- NTSC/ATSC Built-In
- Video Features: Digital Comb Filter
- Receive the Latest Technology Upgrades to Your TV via Firmware Downloads, Fully RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) Compliant
- Inputs: HDMI/HDCP
- Outputs: Audio Out
- On-Screen English/Spanish/French Menu Languages
- 16:9 Widescreen Aspect Ratio
- 1366x768 Resolution
- Contrast Ratio: 1600:1
- 8ms Response Time
- 4 Speakers Stereo Speakers
- Operational Features: ATSC/QAM Tuners for HDTV Broadcasts
- Operational Modes: Cinema Aspect Mode
- Compatible with High Definition Up To 1080i Formats
- Viewing Angles: 178x178
- Accessories Included: Remote Control, Power Cord
- An Authorized Representative will Actually Come to Your House or Business and Provide Complete Service for 1 Year
- 36.8" x 29.4" x 10.3"
- 55 lbs.
Worked fine just out of the box, very happy with the purchase [Posted on 2007-06-13]
We installed our TV last night and overall we are very happy with our purchase. We took advantage of the sale at Target and after applying for their credit card, the price was way too attractive.
I haven't adjusted any settings (even the ones recommended in quick reference manual) yet. Will do those things as time permits and will update this review if I come across something significant.
I connected an existing cheap rabbit ears antenna to the TV and it scanned and found numerous SD and HD channels. HD off the air reception is just wonderful.
This TV has only one antenna input. We have cable (no HD) coming out from co-axial cable and this rabbit ears antenna that also connects to the antenna via co-axial. Fortunately, I had a co-axial cable splitter (Y) and it worked perfectly. I connected cable output and antenna output to each of the inputs of Y splitter and connected the output of Y to TV. When I set the TV to the channel where cable is coming, TV automatically switches to cable channels and then I use cable remote to change the cable channels.
Standard definition programs:
SD, on the other hand, was worse than our 10-year old 27" CRT TV on some channels. What is interesting is, the advertisements looked very sharp, bright, and colorful. Programs themselves were mediocre. It is possible that the channels we tried either weren't recorded with best quality or not transmitted at best quality. I have to see how I can improve the quality of SD programs. We really don't want to subscribe to HD cable.
HD Off-the-air programs:
Way more than satisfactory to my eyes. If you go to a store and compared the screen of 237H to some other brand/model, you may find this inferior. Other brands "may be" really good or may be they were just setup that way on display. But, you will be very happy that you saved hundreds of $ since picture quality seems wonderful at home. (We also have a 61" Samsung HD DLP TV in the living room. So, I do know what to expect from a HD TV.)
Panorama mode aspect:
Panorama mode is disappointing on 237H. (Panorama mode streatches 4:3 picture to 16:9 in such a way that people and things in the middle of the picture don't look fat and stretched. The way they do it is by keeping the picture in the middle intact and streching progressively on the left and right sides of the picture.) Panorama mode on our main TV (DLP) is really smooth and we use it a lot, but on 237H it is very bad. I am not sure if we will ever use that aspect mode. The problem in 237H is that it looks like we are watching the TV through a fish bowl.
Other:
I have read some people complain that channel switching is slow. I haven't noticed anything like that. It worked fine for me.
My TV has 2 HDMI inputs - I have read elsewhere that some people got only one HDMI input.
The TV came with one HDMI cable, one power cable, quick reference poster, remote control + batteries, and a CD ROM. Manual is only in CD ROM - no book is supplied. You will be able to find the manual of 237V (almost identical TV) on the Internet.
When the TV is powered off, a bright blue LED light comes on and it goes off when the TV is powered on. It is way too bright in the bed room; I have to cover it up with some tape. In a living room, it may act like a night light.
It was very easy to setup - took me less than one hour to take down existing TV, place this TV, make all the connections, perform basic initial setup, and start watching (enjoying) the programs.
Update 6/15/2007:
Setup menu allows to disable (turn off) the bright blue LED in the front.
No PIP buttons on the remote; you have to use setup menu to control PIP. Based on some threads on forums elsewhere on the Internet, PIP function has limitations.
Yes, you can view the picture for full 178 degrees, but the picture quality starts deteriorate as you move away from the front.
Still enjoying the product very much and very happy with the purchase.
Update 6/18/2007:
Standard definition picture quality is now acceptable after setting noise reduction to high and iDEA setting to black level control.
Update 7/3/2007:
My camera (Canon S2 IS) can shoot excellent video in VGA (640x480) resolution. When I play the video on my other DLP TV, it would stretch the video to fit the screen and blur the picture. 237T supports a display aspect called 1:1 which will show the video as it is without any stretching. I like this feature a lot - even though the picture size becomes small, the quality is very pleasing.
Withholding Judgement [Posted on 2007-06-16]
I bought the TV from Target.com and got the set in a reasonable amount of time. I have a problem that makes me withhold judgment. It shuts down periodically, no power at all. I can hear the transformer powering up and down so I think it's a thermal problem.
Called Olevia and they suggested I return it. I just went through the replacement process so I'll be working through that process.
While it has been working (about 45 minutes at a time) I really like the picture and it's auto scan did a good job on my cable (analog and digital). If not for the power-down I'd rate the TV very high. And the channels do change slowly, but a lot better than on my ReplayTV.
Very pleased and surprised [Posted on 2007-12-11]
I did plenty of research on this TV and it has surpased all my expectations. This set has 2 hdmi slots and included is a 6ft hdmi cable. The owners manual is on cd but if you own any amount of newer electronic equipment is is no big deal. Very easy to make all the adjustments, color, tint, temp. It has a bright blue led standby light that makes for a nice nightlite but it can be disabled. I hooked it up to a HD antenna and the picture is superb. I have a 55" Sony and it is every bit as good. Very easy to program the hd channels and gives you a strength signal as it goes through the program. I would definatley recommend this product, watch for the deals I got mine for under $500. Olevia is on the rise in the LCD market
so far so good !! [Posted on 2008-02-12]
I was very hesitant to buy Ovelia Brand but after reading reviews i decided to buy Oevia 37". So far(3 months)the experience has been FANTASTIC ! HD chennel display is awesome. one good thing is it has 2 S-video input ports and 2 HDMI inputs.The sound quality is excelleent.I would definitley recommend this product.
Absolute waste of money! [Posted on 2008-03-06]
I would not recommend this product to anyone! Within five months, the tv was shutting itself off and on several times a day. The manufacturer told us to upload new software from their site. We did, and the set would no longer turn on at all. We asked them for a replacement set. They said they would send a refurbished or out of the box replacement. (The 1 year warranty wouldn't start over, either.) We weren't too happy about that, but thought it was better than nothing. Three weeks, and a dozen phone calls later, and we still don't have a tv. Customer service has been quite rude and unhelpful, and will only refund our purchase at a prorated rate. You have got to be kidding! ~ I wish we had checked out The Better Business Bureau on this company before purchasing.
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