Westinghouse Digital TX-52F480S HDTV

Over time, we’ve had the opportunity to review several televisions within different size categories and different price ranges. There are some sets that are worth buying considering its combination of price and performance. There are others that are absolutely ridiculous and in fact, is not a very practical purchase.

The Westinghouse Digital TX-52F480S is the second most expensive HDTV in its size category. Although it differs by only a few dollars, it falls short on image quality and features.

In tests, the Westinghouse Digital TX-52F480S performed well despite it being a 52-inch LCD HDTV that doesn’t have 120-Hz refresh rate. In fact, it even performed better compared to some sets that does support 120-Hz refresh rate. The Westinghouse provided smooth motion in scenes that otherwise showcased the advantages of a 120-Hz HDTV .

However, there are still some issues with the TX-52F480S. More specifically, its image quality. The set displays a reddish, sunburned tint in Caucasian skin tones. It also shows signs of pixelation and fuzziness.

As for its audio, the TX-52F480 is even more horrible. At 61 percent of full volume the built-in speakers lacked dynamic range. This simply means that sounds tend to become flat and muddy and strained. Even at 40 percent of full volume, the audible strain is distracting. Anyone who buys this set should reserve the internal speakers for news and TV shows, and use a separate sound system when watching movies and concerts.

A bigger plus is the set’s Autosource feature. This allows users to turn on a DVD player or other A/V source that’s connected to the television, and Autosource automatically switches to it.

Overall, the Westinghouse TX-52F480S is a pretty good TV. But other models offer more features for less money.