Marketed as a CRT replacement, the VA series is light on feature with few extras out-of-the-box. This also includes its signature Senseye video-enhancement technology that comes standard in all 2005 models. Will this cost-cutting measure compromise the set's picture quality? Read on for our take on this 37-incher.
Design
The VA371 departs from the company's customary dull silver shade, draped instead in a blend of silver and black. To capitalise on the new colour scheme and maintain a minimalist appeal, its TV controls have been repositioned to the side, kept out of view of preying eyes. This leaves the front clutter-free less the BenQ logo, power LED, remote sensor and perforated speaker grille situated below the LCD panel.
Measuring just centimetres shy of a metre wide, this BenQ 37-incher is no larger than its peers of similar make, while the material of choice is all-round plastic of reasonable quality. Build aside, the VA371 features an assembly-free design that makes physical installation a snap. This is thanks to a factory-installed pedestal stand that neither swivels nor tilts. You can also opt to wall-mount the panel. However, a third-party Video Electronic Standards Association-compliant bracket is required as BenQ is not offering this accessory as an option.
A functional but too plasticky remote. Click to enlarge.
The bundled remote control is adequately styled with a chromed BenQ logo, though it is hardly considered eye-catching. First debuted together with the 2005 DV-series, it is practical to use and offers fine ergonomics with a contoured base. However, there is no dedicated input buttons to facilitate video switching, which may be a hassle for those with multiple A/V boxes. The build of the keys also leaves much to be desired, being one of the most plasticky we have come across.
Not all is lost, though; faring much better is the set's intuitive software menu. Here, you will find most of the fundamental adjustments in the video and audio departments for personal customisation. They range from the usual mix of brightness and contrast settings to the more advanced bass and treble tune-oriented controls. That said, we were locked out from tweaking the Tint option, which is strangely reserved for the legacy composite and S-video inputs only.
Features
Marketed as a CRT TV replacement, the VA371 is pleasantly equipped with out-of-the-box HD-compatibility via a 1,366 x 768-pixel LCD panel. Besides the high resolution, the panel is capable of delivering a respectable contrast ratio and brightness factors of 1,200:1 and 500cd/m2, respectively. This is further complemented by a fast 8ms response time which guarantees ghosting-free pictures ideal as proven in our Xbox 360 Ridge Racing 6 gaming sessions.
A generous offering of three sets of component-video sockets.
Click to enlarge.
As BenQ's new value series in its 2006 line-up of LCD TVs, there is not much in terms of extra icings offered by the set beyond the basics. You will get a single tuner picture-in-picture and picture-by-picture functions to monitor your favourite program. Sadly, even this is somewhat handicapped due to an inflexible fixed allocation of one display window to PC input. Another highlight in its sparse feature set is the Teletext function, which is pretty much a standard in all modern TVs.
Taking into consideration all the cost-cutting measures deployed so far, the Taiwanese company is rather generous when it comes to the connectivity options. Besides a HDMI terminal, we counted not two, but three sets of 1080i-enabled component-video sockets. This gives you up to four HD-ready inputs, which is a step up from most entry to midrange TVs. For those users looking for a computer interface, there is also a PC input compatible with up to 1,360 x 768 resolution signals.
Performance
Due to the shortfall in Tint adjustment, video calibration for the VA371 was shorter than usual, after a quick setup with our reference Pioneer DV-969AVi and Samsung BD-P1000 players. Our initial impression of picture quality was positive with strong colour saturation matched by clean images. The observation also applied to standard off-the-air broadcast, which was one of the best among its class.
Running our suite of AVIA test patterns revealed both the strength and weakness of the panel's performance. While the set delivered relatively deep shades of black, we detected very strong red push during the colour decoder testing. This was also evident in our DVD movie critique where flesh tones were reproduced with an unnatural pinkish-red cast. That said, we were nevertheless treated with jaggy-free contours and pristine-clean white in the mountainous scenes of Vertical Limit.
Moving up the performance scale were the BenQ's High Definition and PC playbacks. Sharp details were clearly visible with native high-resolution feeds from MediaCorp's HD broadcast and Xbox 360 titles. The same went for 1,280 x 768 signals piped through a Compaq laptop, rendered with razor-sharp text and displayed in full-screen format. In fact, we were sure the VA371 would function just as well as a computer monitor substitute for Web surfing and gaming needs.
At 8W per channel, our expectation was low for the VA371's onboard stereo speakers. As expected, the low-end delivery was close to non-existent, while its high-end counterpart was surprisingly muffled. Unlike the red push issue, the latter could be worked around by boosting the treble setting in the software menu. Stereo imaging-wise, the TV performed well within the limits of a bottom speaker system with a localisable soundstage.
Priced at AU$2,699, the latest BenQ VA371 represents good value with its combination of above-average picture quality and affordability. If you are shopping for a CRT TV replacement and have a shoestring budget to work with, this living room-friendly 37-incher is definitely worth a consideration.
Like this article? Click below to send it to your mobile for free!
Be one of the first to rate this product!