Sceptre E420BV-F120 LED HDTV: Disappointing Picture

The Sceptre E420BV-F120 has a list price of $1299 (as of March 23, 2011), but can be found around the Internet for about half that price--and it's not really a surprise as to why. This 42-inch 1080p LED HDTV is slim and simple, but it seriously falls short in the picture department. You can find some pluses--for example, this Sceptre generously offers five HDMI ports--but ultimately its picture quality leaves too much to be desired, from leaking light around the screen edges to extreme noisiness and graininess in the initial out-of-the-box setup.
The E420BV-F120 is a moderately thin, light HDTV with an attractive design. Surrounding the 42-inch screen is a thin, shiny black bezel; the Sceptre logo, in mirrored silver script, is located at the bottom center of the bezel. The speakers are positioned below the bezel, but are so subtly integrated into the design (in the form of a thin, black strip) that you'll barely notice them. The TV perches on an oval, tempered-glass stand with a wide swivel range--45 degrees to either side. The stand is clear around the edges and black on the inside.

Price from: $699.99