The accelerated life cycle and cut-throat pricing in the flat panel TV market now force manufacturers to migrate new features throughout their entire product line faster than ever. We’re seeing that with LED backlights and 120 Hz refresh rates. It’s already starting to happen with Internet connectivity and stereoscopic 3D support. The bottom line is that you don’t have to wait long for a new, desirable feature to get folded into the list of standard features that you can expect to find on all but the most stripped-down entry-level models.

I suspect that it’s a whole lot more fun to be the consumer and not the manufacturer in this market.

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The connection panel is solid, including three HDMI inputs, two component video inputs, one PC/VGA input, and one RF input to access the internal tuners. The HDMI inputs are side-facing for easy access. The VR-6025Z lacks a network connection and a media-friendly port like USB or SD. (There is a USB port, but it’s for service only.) Not surprisingly, the TV also lacks an RS-232 or IR port for integration into an advanced control system.

The A/V adjustments are lean, lacking some of the advanced options you’ll find in a step-up TV. You can choose from four picture modes and three color-temperature presets, and basic controls for contrast, brightness, color, and sharpness are available. Noise reduction and “dynamic luminance” controls are located in the general setup menu, as opposed to the picture menu. The TV does not have a multiple-step backlight control to manually tailor the light output to suit your viewing environment, nor does it offer precise white balance adjustment, color management, gamma, and other higher-end controls. As I mentioned above, this TV has a 120Hz refresh rate to help reduce motion blur, but there’s no customization options in the setup menu; Westinghouse says that this TV includes adjustable MEMC to produce smoother motion with film sources, but the owner’s manual does not list controls in the setup menu. The VR-6025Z has three aspect-ratio modes: Standard, Fill, and Overscan.

On the audio side, you get four sound modes, plus bass, treble, and balance controls. The TV lacks any type of surround mode or volume-leveling control to minimize volume discrepancies between sources.

High Points
• Despite its budget price, the VR-6025Z has a 60-inch screen size and a 1080p resolution
• The TV has a 120Hz refresh rate to reduce motion blur.
• LCDs can be very bright, which makes them a good choice for a well-lit viewing environment.
• Westinghouse uses environmentally conscious packaging.
• The TV has a solid assortment of video inputs, with three HDMI, two component video, and one VGA.

Low Points
• The VR-6025Z uses a CCFL backlight, not edge LED lighting; as such, its form isn’t quite as lean. It has a depth of 4.65 inches and weighs about 90 pounds.
• LCD viewing angles are not as good you’ll find with a plasma TV.
• The VR-6025Z does not include a Web platform, network connectivity, or media-friendly USB/SD ports
• Picture adjustments are limited.
• This is not a 3D-capable TV.
• The TV lacks an IR or RS-232 port.

Competition and Comparison
Compare the Westinghouse VR-6025Z with its competition by reading the reviews for the Sanyo DP55441, Sony BRAVIA BX420, and Dynex DX-46L260A12. Learn more about LCD TVs by visiting our LED/LCD HDTV section.

Conclusion
Westinghouse’s VR-6025Z is designed for the budget-conscious consumer who wants an all-purpose big-screen HDTV and is willing to sacrifice bells and whistles to get it. You still get a 1080p resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a solid connection panel. You don’t get the Web/media services you’ll find on pricier sets; then again, with the money you save, you could invest in a Roku 2 or Apple TV and enjoy those features via a standalone box.

The connection panel is fairly lean, offering just two HDMI inputs, one PC/VGA input (with a mini-jack audio in), one composite A/V input, and one RF input to access the internal tuners. You also get optical digital and stereo analog audio outputs. The HDMI inputs are side-facing for easy access. The LD-4655VX lacks a component video input, a network connection, and a media-friendly port like USB or SD. (There is a USB port, but it’s for service only.) Not surprisingly, the TV also lacks an RS-232 or IR port for integration into an advanced control system.

Likewise, the A/V adjustments are lean. You can choose from five picture modes, three backlight options, and three color-temperature presets, and naturally you have access to basic controls for contrast, brightness, saturation, hue, and sharpness. Dynamic contrast is also available. The setup menu lacks precise white balance adjustment, color management, gamma, and other higher-end options. As I mentioned above, this TV has a 120Hz refresh rate to help reduce motion blur, but there are no customization options in the setup menu, nor is there a “smooth” de-judder mode. The LD-4655VX has four aspect-ratio choices, including a 1:1 mode to view content with no scaling.

On the audio side, you get five sound modes, plus bass, treble, and balance controls. A Surround 3D function is available, but this TV lacks any type of volume-leveling control to minimize volume discrepancies between sources.

High Points
• The LD-4655VX’s edge-lit LED design allows for energy efficiency and a fairly slim cabinet.
• The TV has a 120Hz refresh rate to reduce motion blur.
• LCDs can be very bright, which makes them a good choice for a well-lit viewing environment.
• Westinghouse uses environmentally conscious packaging.
• The LD-4655VX is a good value.

Low Points
• Edge-lit LED-based LCD TVs can suffer from brightness-uniformity issues, and this model lacks local dimming to more precisely adjust the LED lighting to improve black level and uniformity.
• LCD viewing angles are not as good you’ll find with a plasma TV.
• The LD-4655VX does not include a Web platform, network connectivity, or media-friendly USB/SD ports
• Connections and picture adjustments are limited. There are only two HDMI inputs and no component video input.
• This is not a 3D-capable TV.
• The TV lacks an IR or RS-232 port.

Competition and Comparison
Compare the Westinghouse LD-4655VX with its competition by reading the reviews for the Sony KDL-40EX620, Philips 46PFL7505D/F7, and Dynex DX-46L260A12. Learn more about LED-based LCD TVs by visiting our LED HDTV section.

Conclusion
With a street price around $650, the LD-4655VX is a very good value for a 46-inch, 1080p HDTV that offers edge LED lighting and a 120Hz refresh rate. Yes, the LD-4655VX is lean in features, but that’s to be expected at this price point. The only real area of concern is its connection panel. With only two HDMI inputs and no component video, you’re limited to two HD-capable sources (plus a computer via VGA). If all you’ve got are a cable/satellite box and a Blu-ray player, then you’re fine. Add anything else, though, and you’re going to need to invest in an external switcher, which adds to the bottom line. With that limitation in mind, the LD-4655VX makes a lot of sense as a second-room TV, perhaps for a family room or bedroom where you may not connect as many sources.