The “Break it Down” Blog

Some quick background, Vizio broke out onto the scene with the most value-minded (read: cheapest) televisions at Costco and eventually other major retailers, servicing the middle to low end crowd with affordible HDTVs that performed OK.

Since then Vizio’s business and ability to execute at delivering increasingly better panels, still targeted to the mid-range, have made the company hugely successful.

Early last year, Vizio announced plans to creep into the higher end HDTV market with some premium set releases. Some of the features Vizio was touting were enhancements like integrated HQV video processors, extensive connectivity and promising excellent image quality at an affordable price range.

One set in particular we have been waiting to see show up on websites for sale (specifically Costco’s) has been the VP505XVT. The VP505XVT signifies the first mainstream television to pull down higher-end features that are usually reserved for $2500+ sets and deliver them in a compelling package at the redicuously affordible price of $1,200.

So far the reviews of the TV have been glaringly positive, ignoring it’s price point, with PC Mag’s Robert Heron giving the new TV the title of Editor’s Choice over the last EC winner: The Pioneer Kuro PDP-5020FD, who’s price point starts at 2x the price of the Vizio.

Right now there doesn’t seem to be a better value-minded TV, at this price point, that delivers this level of picture quality to consider. Nothing in the LCD space atleast, with the preferred Samsungs and Sony’s again starting at atleast 2x the price, and certainly nothing in the DLP space.

If you are getting ready for the Super Bowl and want to go pickup a new TV, the Vizio VP505XVT looks like a great place to start.