Whether for work or play, the 20-inch VR-20 is the perfect flat panel display. The Visual Revolution VR-20 features a built-in TV tuner compatible with enhanced definition (480p) content and progressive scan DVD players. This display is no less a TV as it is a monitor with its requisite 15-pin input, high brightness, wide viewing angles, and convenient OSD menu.
SVA's stylish VR-20 LCD television offers a perfectly flat, 20-inch screen capable of rendering vivid, razor-sharp images from your PC, external sources like DVD players, and from its own internal NTSC tuner for convenient broadcast-television viewing. With 640 x 480 native pixel resolution, the VR-20's image quality is enhanced by its high (450:1) contrast ratio, an exceptional peak brightness of 400 candles/square meter, and wide (170 x 170-degrees) viewing angles. The stereo set pumps five watts per channel through its discreet, flush-mount speakers.
The VR-20 is EDTV capable, meaning it renders both 480i interlaced (standard resolution, as from VCRs and cable boxes) and 480p progressive-scan video signals from DTV set-top decoders and DVD players in their native resolutions. But the set also accepts high-definition 720p signals, as well, scaling them to its 480p resolution. It also offers a built-in NTSC tuner for convenient broadcast-TV viewing.
Progressive scanning, referred to as 480p/720p for the number of horizontal lines that compose the video image, creates a picture using twice the scan lines of a conventional DVD picture, giving you higher resolution and sharper images while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts.
LCD screens offer a number of benefits over CRT monitors and televisions, including general ease of use, freedom from eye strain (no screen flickering or radiation emissions), quiet operation (no high-pitch "flyback" noise, an issue with CRT TVs), accurate image geometry (no curvature distortion or susceptibility to magnetic interference from, say, speakers), long screen life (no risk of image burn-in), space savings, and light weight/easy positioning. They also tend to be cheaper and, to some eyes, slightly more natural looking than their plasma flat-panel counterparts, which usually "spec" higher (higher brightness, higher contrast ratio).
Set the VR-20 on a desk using the supplied stand, or mount it on the wall for cool styling and maximum space efficiency.
What's in the Box
TV, AC adapter, AC power cord, remote control, remote batteries, audio and video cables (stereo analog audio and composite-, component-, and S-video), desk stand, and a user's manual.
1 Reasonable value
SVA may not be the most well-known company, but the VR-20 is a solid 20" monitor. Color and brightness were above average. Note that the default settings are a little too bright for most people's tastes. The 800x600 resolution is very low compared to most monitor. However, it is sufficient for DVDs and games.
All in all, not the highest quality, but when you realize you're getting 20 inches for such a low price, this becomes a really good deal. Most screens at this size are near $1000 in price.
If this LCD is too expensive, you can get one for free at:
http://tinyurl.com/8rg58
Overall, a good value at an outstanding price.
2 Okay, but...
This was my 2nd LCD TV I have bought. The TV comes with many cables so you don't need to buy any. The picture quality is fair. In my opinion it is too, too bright. I noticed on basketball games and hockey games that the playing surface made the whole picture lighter. I tried to adjust it with a video calibration disc but I could not get it to improve. I also didn't like the MS response time of 30mm is way to slow. I f you are watching and active program, sporting event, or news with moving banner at the bottom of the screen you will notice how distorted it will look.
3 Very Good VALUE and Very Few Complaints
The first thing that struck me when I opened the box was the vast amount of cables that come with the TV. There was at least fifty dollars of cables alone included. I was able to easily plug in the TV according to the user's manual and get it on and working within minutes. The image is very bright and the colors are very good out of the box, and are adjustable to be even better. The outer appearance of the television is very appealing. Compared to its competitors, the SVA is much more attractive, it looks exactly like the first customer image. At first, I was disappointed with the dullness of the screen, however, that is fully adjustable to make for a fairly sharp image that I was pleased with. The first real problem that I encountered was mounting the television on the wall. It requires a VESA standard mount, which was not made entirely, clear in the manual. The manual, by the way was surprisingly weak in its information. And my other complaint with the TV is its lack of features, it does have CC and V-chip control but I was hoping for more features from such an expensive TV. However, some people might appreciate its ease of use without the confusing controls of more expensive TVs. Some of the TV's most pleasing aspects were the fact that it makes no high pitched noise when turned on, the image is sharp, bright, and clear, and that the TV is very attractive in its outer styling. Overall however, I was disappointed with the fact that it did not come with a wall mount, that the power adapter is big and bulky when it should have been built in, and that the resolution is too low to display a computer screen over 800x600 even with the sharpness control. Overall, I think that SVA provides an OUTSTANDING value when similar looking and similar qualified Sharp and Toshiba TVs are going for more than twice the money. I would definitely purchase this TV again, without regrets, if I were in the 20" LCD market.
4 SVA VR-20 or SVA VR-20CG
The unit pictured on Amazon as of this writing is the SVA VR-20CG. The one Justin got (see previous review), and the one that should be pictured here, is the SVA VR-20. They are exactly the same unit except for styling.
I opted for the SVA VR-20CG because it looked a bit different than all the other LCD TVs out there. Very nice picture and overall great value. No problem hooking up progressive scan DVD player/recorder to it and it looks great in the bedroom.
You should note that SVA Group is a very reputable company. I went to their website and called tech support before I purchased the unit to ask some general questions. The company's US headquarters are in Southern California and the technician I spoke to was in Southern California and was extremely helpful answering my questions.
5 A great number of features in a small space
This is a great TV and a great unit and looks great. I only have a couple of concerns for those looking to order this. The picture that Amazon has up as of 9/14/04 is not correct. Also between the time I ordered this and received it, the price on Amazon jumped up about $100. I'm not sure if they changed the styling and that is the difference, but at any rate I am very happy since I ended up with a TV priced $100 more than I paid for it and since the styling of the one I got is better than the picture. The model I was shipped does not have the gray plastic molding on the sides, the holes for the speakers are smaller and more numerous it is also shaped more like a picture frame and the controls are at the bottom center instead of on the upper right. One thing to note is that while you can use a VESA standard mounting plate to mount it to a wall or use the included stand, the TV also has two key-hole screw slot mounting holes built into the back of the case so that it can be hung directly onto a wall like a picture. The unit came with probably about $100 worth of cables. Including component video RCA cable set, RGB (VGA) cable, 3 composite video RCA cable sets, S-Video cable, 1/8 Audio cable. Everything is here to hook up to a computer and any video source you can imagine. My unit did not come with remote batteries but no big deal. This is a great TV but I would not have bought it at the current price.
