SETTINGS
Type: LED
Resolution: 1080p
Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
The Vizio D Series 1080p 2016 is a good budget LED TV. It performs good enough across the board, from movies in the dark to video games. Note: this review is for the 1080p variant of the D Series. We reviewed the 4k UHD separately here.
- Low input lag and motion blur, which is great for video games.
- Good basic picture quality.
- Loss of picture quality at an angle.
- Cable and DVDs look slightly blurrier than most TVs.
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Design
Curved: No
From watching directly in front, the design of the Vizio D Series 2016 looks good. From the side, or in a setup where the back of the TV can be seen, it appears bulky. It feels a bit cheap with all parts being made out of plastic, but it is not the worse looking TV.
Stand
Two plastic stands sturdily holds the TV on each of its sides.
Footprint of the 50″ TV stand: 10.2″ x 39″
Back
Wall Mount
:
Vesa 200×200
The back of the TV looks bulky but well thought out since no connections will be blocked if the TV is wall mounted.
Borders
Borders
:
0.55" (1.4 cm)
Made of plastic, borders have an average thickness.
Thickness
Max Thickness
:
2.44" (6.2 cm)
The bulkiness of the TV is apparent when watched from the side.
7.0
Movies & TV
Score components:
- 38%
Dark Scene - 6%
Judder - 19%
HDR - 12%
Color Accuracy - 25%
Resolution
Learn more
The Vizio D 1080p 2016 is a good TV for watching movies. High quality sources look great with a lot of details and dark scenes are rendered nicely even in a low light environment. The colors of the Vizio D are also accurate after a few settings tweaks. Judder, although not always taking care of, is not much of an issue. Unfortunately, the Vizio D Series doesn't offer high end features like HDR, 3D and motion interpolation.
7.6
Dark Scene
Score components:
- 51%
Contrast
- 20%
Black Uniformity
- 26%
Local Dimming
- 3%
3D
Contrast
Black Uniformity
Local Dimming
3D
Learn more
The D Series is a good TV for watching late night movies. Dark scenes appear full of details even when watched in a completely dark room. Shadow details are nicely represented. Unfortunately, local dimming isn't really good and there is no 3D feature available.
9.1
Contrast
What it is:
Brightness difference between white and black. This is the main component of picture quality.
When it matters:
Always, but especially when watching dark scenes.
Score components:
- 100%
Contrast
Learn more
Black
What it is:
How much light pure black emits.
When it matters:
Dark scenes viewed in a dark room.
Good value:
< 0.040 cd/m2
Noticeable difference:
0.010 cd/m2
Learn more
:
0.018 cd/m2
White
What it is:
White brightness of our calibration.
When it matters:
It doesn’t matter much. This is mainly to standardize our black and contrast ratio measurements.
Good value:
Close to our 100 cd/m2 target.
Noticeable difference:
20 cd/m2
Learn more
:
100.7 cd/m2
Contrast
What it is:
Ratio of the white brightness divided by the blacks.
When it matters:
Dark scenes in a dark room.
Good value:
> 3,000
Noticeable difference:
500
Learn more
:
5594 : 1
The D Series has deep blacks which results in a great contrast ratio that makes the picture pops.
9.0
Black Uniformity
What it is:
Evenness of blacks.
When it matters:
Dark scenes viewed in a dark room.
Score components:
- 100%
Std. Dev.
Learn more
Std. Dev.
What it is:
Average of the squared difference of the blacks.
When it matters:
Dark scenes viewed in a dark room.
Good value:
< 2%
Noticeable difference:
1%, but keep in mind that it varies a lot by unit, even of the same model; yours likely will not end up exactly like ours.
Learn more
:
0.981 %
Great black uniformity. Not much clouding can be seen on a totally black screen. Great for dark scenes.
4.5
Local Dimming
What it is:
The lights behind the LCD layer adapt to the picture displayed, improving the contrast ratio.
When it matters:
Dark scenes viewed in a dark room.
Score components:
Subjectively assigned
Learn more
Local Dimming
What it is:
Whether it has a feature that controls the LEDs behind the LCD layer, to match the picture and darkens the dark portion of it.
When it matters:
On LED TVs only. Dark scenes viewed in a dark room.
Learn more
:
Yes
Backlight
What it is:
Configuration of the lights of the backlight.
When it matters:
Effectiveness of the local dimming.
Good value:
Full-array/direct lighting is better for local dimming. As for the uniformity of the screen, it depends on the implementation. Some edge-lit TVs have more uniform blacks than some full-array TVs.
Learn more
:
Full-Array
Poor local dimming, especially for a full array. Some edge-lit TVs even do better than this. In our video, you can’t see much blooming, but that’s because it dims the dot too much.
0
3D
What it is:
Optional 3D video capability on TV.
When it matters:
3D movies and videos.
Score components:
Subjectively assigned
Learn more
3D Type
What it is:
The 3D technology used by the TV.
When it matters:
3D movies & videos.
Good value:
Active have better resolution, but flickers. Passive is more comfortable, but loses half the vertical resolution.
Learn more
:
No
2D to 3D
What it is:
Feature that converts 2D content to 3D.
When it matters:
If you want to watch 2D content in 3D. Note that the quality is not as good as that of native 3D.
Learn more
:
No
No 3D feature.
5.7
Judder
Score components:
- 80%
24p Playback
- 20%
Motion Interpolation
24p Playback
Motion Interpolation
Learn more
The Vizio D Series 1080p offers a smooth movie experience for blur-rays and DVDs. Movies over cable TV or some streaming devices have constant judder. This shouldn't be a big issue for most since not everyone can detect judder. Unfortunately, it doesn't have motion interpolation features.
7.1
24p Playback
What it is:
Whether 24p content can play without any judder.
When it matters:
Only 24p content (mostly just movies).
Score components:
- 71%
Judder-free 24p - 14%
Judder-free 24p via 60p - 14%
Judder-free 24p via 60i
Learn more
Judder-free 24p
What it is:
Judder-free movies over 24p signal.
When it matters:
Blu-ray and DVD movies; 24 hz PC signal.
Learn more
:
Yes
Judder-free 24p via 60p
What it is:
Judder-free movies over 60p signal.
When it matters:
Movies from streaming devices (Apple TV, Fire TV, etc.); 60 hz PC signal.
Learn more
:
No
Judder-free 24p via 60i
What it is:
Judder-free movies over 60i signal.
When it matters:
Movies from cable/satellite boxes.
Learn more
:
No
Only 24p sources are completely judder-free. 60p and 60i have constant judder.
0
Motion Interpolation
What it is:
Also known as ‘Soap Opera Effect’. It is an optional feature that increases the frame rate of the video, smoothing movement.
When it matters:
If you like the look of smoothed video. Not everyone does.
Score components:
- 50%
Motion Interpolation (30 fps) - 50%
Motion Interpolation (60 fps)
Learn more
Motion Interpolation (30 fps):
What it is:
Whether the TV can take a 30 fps input and heighten the frame rate to at least 60 fps.
When it matters:
30 fps or lower videos. Includes movies, TV shows, some video games.
Learn more
No
Motion Interpolation (60 fps):
What it is:
Whether the TV can take a 60 fps input and heighten the frame rate to at least 100 fps.
When it matters:
60 fps videos. Includes some video games, some sports channels.
Learn more
No
There is no motion interpolation features on this TV.
5.3
HDR
Score components:
- 31%
Color Gamut
- 31%
Peak Brightness
- 16%
Gradient
- 22%
HDR Format Support
Color Gamut
Peak Brightness
Gradient
HDR Format Support
Learn more
The Vizio D Series 2016 doesn't support HDR and as such doesn't have a wide color gamut feature and cannot get extremely bright.
7.1
Color Gamut
What it is:
How many colors the TV can display.
When it matters:
HDR content. Includes some streaming videos and UHD Blu-rays.
Score components:
- 25%
DCI P3 xy - 25%
DCI P3 uv - 25%
Rec 2020 xy - 25%
Rec 2020 uv
Learn more
Wide Color Gamut
What it is:
Whether the TV has an option to enable wide color gamuts.
When it matters:
HDR content. Includes some streaming videos and UHD Blu-rays.
Learn more
:
No
DCI P3 xy
What it is:
Coverage of the DCI P3 colorspace on CIE 1931 xy.
When it matters:
DCI P3 content. Includes HDR, UHD Blu-rays.
Good value:
> 90%
Noticeable difference:
5%
Learn more
:
78.26 %
DCI P3 uv
What it is:
Coverage of the DCI P3 colorspace on CIE 1976 u’ v’.
When it matters:
DCI P3 content. Includes HDR, UHD Blu-rays.
Good value:
> 90%
Noticeable difference:
5%
Learn more
:
84.72 %
Rec 2020 xy
What it is:
Coverage of the Rec.2020 colorspace on CIE 1931 xy.
When it matters:
Rec.2020 content. Includes HDR, UHD Blu-rays.
Good value:
> 90%
Noticeable difference:
5%
Learn more
:
56.56 %
Rec 2020 uv
What it is:
Coverage of the Rec.2020 colorspace on CIE 1976 u’ v’.
When it matters:
Rec.2020 content. Includes HDR, UHD Blu-rays.
Good value:
> 90%
Noticeable difference:
5%
Learn more
:
63.36 %
Good for regular Rec.709 content only. Colors cannot get more saturated like TVs that support HDR.
6.0
Peak Brightness
What it is:
How bright the screen can get. Measured with local dimming and over HDR signal (if supported).
When it matters:
Bright living rooms; bright objects; HDR content.
Score components:
- 20%
2% Window - 20%
10% Window - 20%
25% Window - 20%
50% Window - 20%
100% Window
Learn more
2% Window
What it is:
The maximum luminosity of a white square covering 2% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over HDR signal (if supported).
When it matters:
Bright objects; especially for HDR content.
Good value:
> 400 cd/m2
Noticeable difference:
100 cd/m2
Learn more
:
265 cd/m2
10% Window
What it is:
The maximum luminosity of a white square covering 10% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over HDR signal (if supported).
When it matters:
Bright objects; especially for HDR content.
Good value:
> 400 cd/m2
Noticeable difference:
100 cd/m2
Learn more
:
245 cd/m2
25% Window
What it is:
The maximum luminosity of a white square covering 25% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over HDR signal (if supported).
When it matters:
Bright rooms; bright objects in HDR video.
Good value:
> 300 cd/m2
Noticeable difference:
100 cd/m2
Learn more
:
304 cd/m2
50% Window
What it is:
The maximum luminosity of a white square covering 50% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over HDR signal (if supported).
When it matters:
Bright rooms.
Good value:
> 250 cd/m2
Noticeable difference:
100 cd/m2
Learn more
:
338 cd/m2
100% Window
What it is:
The maximum luminosity of a white square covering 100% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over HDR signal (if supported).
When it matters:
Bright rooms.
Good value:
> 250 cd/m2
Noticeable difference:
100 cd/m2
Learn more
:
362 cd/m2
It can get fairly bright but not anywhere near the level of higher end HDR TVs. For regular content, this is good enough.
8.0
Gradient
What it is:
How finely levels of color can be displayed.
When it matters:
Details in shadows, sky and skin tones. Matters more for HDR content.
Score components:
Subjectively assigned
Learn more
Color Depth
What it is:
Number of bits per pixel to represent a specific color. Note: we consider 8-bit with dithering to be equivalent to 10-bit, as long as the 10-bit gradient looks smooth.
When it matters:
HDR content like UHD Blu-ray players. Won’t matter for cable TV, regular Blu-ray movies, video game consoles or content displayed from a Windows PC. Those are limited to 8-bit color.
Good value:
10-bit.
Noticeable difference:
1 bit.
Learn more
:
8 Bit
The Vizio D Series 1080p 2016 uses an 8 bit panel. Gradations can be seen in the shift of colors. This won’t be a problem in regular content although some banding can be seen on some scenes.
0
HDR Format Support
HDR10
What it is:
Standard HDR format.
When it matters:
Most common format. All UHD Blu-ray discs are required to have it.
:
No
Dolby Vision
What it is:
Better format, due to its dynamic nature.
When it matters:
Currently, only available via streaming.
:
No
8.6
Color Accuracy
Score components:
- 80%
Pre Calibration
- 20%
Post Calibration
Pre Calibration
Post Calibration
Learn more
Out of the box, colors aren't great but most wouldn't notice any problems. The good thing is that almost all issues could be fixed with calibration. The resulting picture offered very rich and natural colors.
You can see our Rec.709 calibration settings here.
8.3
Pre Calibration
What it is:
TV’s color accuracy before a full calibration. Only the picture mode and backlight level were changed.
When it matters:
All video on an uncalibrated TV. This represents most people’s use cases.
Score components:
- 50%
White Balance dE - 50%
Color dE
Learn more
White Balance dE
What it is:
Average inaccuracy of shades of gray.
When it matters:
Overall color temperature of all video.
Good value:
< 3
Noticeable difference:
1
Learn more
:
2.6
Color dE
What it is:
Average inaccuracy of colors.
When it matters:
All colors.
Good value:
< 3
Noticeable difference:
1
Learn more
:
3.3745
Gamma
What it is:
Brightness of shades of gray.
When it matters:
Shadows.
Good value:
Between 2.1 and 2.3 (our target is 2.2)
Noticeable difference:
0.1
Learn more
:
2.07
Out of the box, red is a little prominent and give a little too warm look to the picture. White balance dE isn’t too high and doesn’t create problems.
9.6
Post Calibration
What it is:
TV’s color accuracy after a full calibration with a spectrophotometer.
When it matters:
All video on a TV that has been professionally calibrated. This isn’t that useful, because most TVs can achieve a pretty good calibration if you spend enough time on them.
Score components:
- 50%
White Balance dE - 50%
Color dE
Learn more
White Balance dE
What it is:
Average inaccuracy of shades of gray.
When it matters:
Overall color temperature of all videos.
Good value:
< 3
Noticeable difference:
1
Learn more
:
0.25
Color dE
What it is:
Average inaccuracy of colors.
When it matters:
All colors.
Good value:
< 3
Noticeable difference:
1
Learn more
:
1.2605
Gamma
What it is:
Brightness of shades of gray.
When it matters:
Shadows.
Good value:
Between 2.1 and 2.3 (our target is 2.2)
Noticeable difference:
0.1
Learn more
:
2.19
Most issues could be fixed with calibration. White balance dE got very low and a few color issues could be resolved.
7.1
Resolution
Score components:
- 18%
480p
- 29%
720p
- 36%
1080p
- 18%
4k
480p
720p
1080p
4k
The Vizio D Series 1080p 2016 offers nice details in high quality streaming content and blu-rays but is just a little softer for lower quality content like cable TV and DVDs. This isn't much noticeable at a distance though and most won't notice. 480p and 720p are slightly sharper than the 4k UHD D Series.
7.5
480p
What it is:
Quality of a 480p input.
When it matters:
Standard definition TV, DVDs.
Score components:
Subjectively assigned
Compared to other TVs, the Vizio D 1080p 2016 is just a little worse with 480p content. As long as the seating aren’t too close from the TV, this shouldn’t be a big concern.
7.5
720p
What it is:
Quality of a 720p input.
When it matters:
HD channels, some streaming videos.
Score components:
Subjectively assigned
Same can be said with 720p content. The Vizio D 1080p 2016 isn’t the best with that resolution but isn’t bad either.
10
1080p
What it is:
Quality of a 1080p input.
When it matters:
Blu-rays, streaming video, video files, video games.
Score components:
Subjectively assigned
In 1080p, it is excellent and offers feature rich details.
0
4k
What it is:
Quality of a 4k UHD input.
When it matters:
Streaming video, UHD Blu-rays, some PCs.
Score components:
Subjectively assigned
Doesn’t have 4k, but it is available in a 4k version that we reviewed here.
8.0
Sports
Score components:
- 56%
Motion Blur - 44%
Gray Uniformity
Learn more
The Vizio D Series 1080P LED is good when it comes to watching sports. It's great for making fast moving objects clear, such as a player throwing a ball to another player. However, the television reveals patches of tinted yellow throughout the display.
9.0
Motion Blur
What it is:
Amount of blur on fast movement.
When it matters:
Sports, video games.
Score components:
- 80%
Response Time - 20%
Overshoot
Learn more
Response Time
What it is:
How quickly pixels can change color.
When it matters:
Fast movement.
Good value:
< 20ms
Noticeable difference:
10ms
Learn more
:
11.9 ms
Overshoot
What it is:
When TV’s pixels adjust too far; how quickly they come back.
When it matters:
Fast movement.
Good value:
< 10ms
Noticeable difference:
10ms
Learn more
:
1.0 ms
Backlight
What it is:
Flickering pattern at different luminosities.
When it matters:
For people sensible to flickering.
Learn more
:
picture
The response time is low, therefore there is almost no motion blur. The trail following the moving logo in our test is short and faint. The down transitions are slower than the up transitions, which results in an orange tone between the letters of our logo. Enabling “Clear Action” can make the image even clearer, but will make the television flicker a great deal which may bother some.
6.8
Gray Uniformity
What it is:
Evenness of colors onscreen (not just gray).
When it matters:
Solid colors. Sports, panning shots.
Score components:
- 50%
Std. Dev. - 50%
DSE
Learn more
Std. Dev.
What it is:
Average squared difference of pixels when displaying a mid 50% gray.
When it matters:
Solid colors. Sports, panning shots.
Good value:
< 2.5%
Noticeable difference:
1%
Learn more
:
4.115 %
DSE
What it is:
High-frequency variance of uniformity. Dark spots on the screen.
When it matters:
Solid colors. Sports, panning shots.
Good value:
< 0.165%
Noticeable difference:
0.025%
Learn more
:
0.186 %
The uniformity of the screen isn’t good and a yellow tint can be seen both in the middle and on the left side of the display. It is still better than an average LED TV.
8.6
Video Games
Score components:
- 35%
Input Lag - 6%
PC Monitor - 59%
Motion Blur
Learn more
Video games on the Vizio D Series 1080P are responsive considering the low input lag that is needed between the input and the display. This will be great for fast pace games. The television isn't well suited to be used as a PC monitor since it has limited resolutions that it can support.
Included scores:
9.0
Motion Blur
9.0
Input Lag
What it is:
Delay between input and onscreen reaction.
When it matters:
Video games; when TV is used as PC monitor.
Score components:
- 100%
Input Lag
Learn more
Input Lag
What it is:
Lowest input lag possible on TV.
When it matters:
Video games; when TV is used as PC monitor.
Good value:
< 50ms
Noticeable difference:
15ms
Learn more
:
26.5 ms
With Interpolation
What it is:
Lowest input lag when the motion interpolation feature is turned on.
When it matters:
When you want to play video games with the Soap Opera Effect enabled.
Good value:
< 50ms
Noticeable difference:
15ms
Learn more
:
N/A ms
Outside Game Mode
What it is:
Input lag in picture modes other than the specific game mode.
When it matters:
For playing video games while retaining access to all features of the TV.
Good value:
< 50ms
Noticeable difference:
15ms
Learn more
:
26.5 ms
The input lag of this television is low, which will be great for fast pace first person shooter games. Enabling ‘Game’ as a picture mode will enable both the ‘Clear Action’ and ‘Game Low Latency’ settings, which will help with motion blur, but as a result the input lag will go to 30.7ms, and you will have more flickering during game play.
2.0
PC Monitor
What it is:
Different resolutions supported by TV.
When it matters:
PC monitor usage.
Score components:
- 20%
1080p @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4 - 20%
1080p @ 120Hz - 20%
4k @ 30Hz @ 4:4:4 - 20%
4k @ 60Hz - 20%
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
1080p @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
What it is:
Crisp text on 1060p @ 60 hz signal.
When it matters:
PC productivity and 60 fps gaming.
:
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
What it is:
120 fps 1080p signal supported.
When it matters:
PC gaming.
:
No
4k @ 30Hz @ 4:4:4
What it is:
Crisp text on 4k @ 30 hz signal.
When it matters:
PC productivity and gaming.
:
No
4k @ 60Hz
What it is:
60 fps 4k signal supported.
When it matters:
PC productivity and gaming.
:
No
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
What it is:
Crisp text on 4k @ 60 hz signal.
When it matters:
Productivity and 60 fps gaming in 4k.
:
No
Anything above 1080@60Hz is not possible, as the native resolution of this television is 1920×1080. 4:4:4 works, and makes text sharper.
6.4
Living Room
Score components:
- 33%
Reflections - 33%
Viewing Angle - 33%
Peak Brightness
Learn more
The Vizio D Series 1080P 2016 can get considerable bright, which helps it eliminate light in a bright room environment. Unfortunately, due to it's poor viewing angle, it is recommended to sit right in front of the television, as colors become washed out at an angle.
Included scores:
6.0
Peak Brightness
8.0
Reflections
What it is:
How much light is reflected by the TV.
When it matters:
Bright rooms.
Score components:
Subjectively assigned
Learn more
Reflection
What it is:
Ratio of ambient light reflected by the TV.
When it matters:
Ambient light in the room.
Good value:
< 1%
Noticeable difference:
0.5%
Learn more
:
2 %
Screen Finish
What it is:
Type of coating on the screen.
When it matters:
Bright objects in the direct reflection path (for example, opposite the TV).
Good value:
Glossy is good for ambient light, but not for direct reflections.
Learn more
:
Semi-gloss
The television handles reflections well and will be capable of getting bright which should be enough to for most living room environments.
5.1
Viewing Angle
What it is:
Color accuracy when viewed from the side.
When it matters:
Large living rooms with multiple viewing positions.
Score components:
- 100%
Viewing Angle
Learn more
LCD Type
What it is:
Type of LCD technology used by the TV.
When it matters:
Different technologies have different viewing angle properties.
Good value:
IPS maintains good color accuracy at an angle, but has a poor contrast ratio from in front. VA has great picture quality in front, but loses saturation at an angle.
Learn more
:
VA
Viewing Angle
What it is:
Angle where the contrast drops to 50% of the contrast directly in front of the TV. 0 ° means directly facing the TV.
When it matters:
Large living rooms with multiple viewing positions.
Good value:
> 30°
Noticeable difference:
10°
Learn more
:
10 °
The television has poor viewing angles, colors become washed out and the blacks become gray. It is recommended to be sitting in front of the television rather than at an angle.
6.5
Sound
Score components:
- 67%
Frequency Response - 33%
Total Harmonic Distortion
Learn more
Average sound quality for a TV. It is good enough for most people, but if you are serious about sound, even a cheap sound bar will be an upgrade.
7.0
Frequency Response
What it is:
Sound level at different frequencies.
When it matters:
For balanced sound.
Score components:
- 8%
Std. Dev. @ 75 - 15%
Std. Dev. @ 85 - 23%
Std. Dev. @ Max - 15%
Max - 38%
Low-end Cutoff
Learn more
Std. Dev. @ 75
What it is:
Variance of the sound level at different frequencies.
When it matters:
75 dB.
Good value:
< 4 dB
Noticeable difference:
2 dB
Learn more
:
3.28 dB SPL
Std. Dev. @ 85
What it is:
Variance of the sound level at different frequencies.
When it matters:
85 dB.
Good value:
< 4 dB
Noticeable difference:
2 dB
Learn more
:
3.11 dB SPL
Std. Dev. @ Max
What it is:
Variance of the sound level at different frequencies.
When it matters:
Max volume.
Good value:
< 4 dB
Noticeable difference:
2 dB
Learn more
:
4.45 dB SPL
Max
What it is:
Max volume on the TV at a distance of 1 meter.
When it matters:
For listening to loud audio.
Good value:
> 90 dB
Noticeable difference:
2 dB
Learn more
:
86.5 dB SPL
Low-end Cutoff
What it is:
How low of a frequency at which the bass starts.
When it matters:
Movies; gaming.
Good value:
< 50Hz
Noticeable difference:
10Hz
Learn more
:
127.00 Hz
Good frequency response, however, there may be some pumping and compression present at higher volumes. Low-end cutoff and maximum loudness are below average, even for a TV.
5.4
Total Harmonic Distortion
What it is:
Pureness of a single frequency.
Score components:
- 20%
Distortion @ 75 - 40%
Distortion @ 85 - 40%
Distortion @ Max
Learn more
Distortion @ 75
What it is:
Amount of distortion.
When it matters:
75 dB.
Good value:
< 0.100
Noticeable difference:
0.100
Learn more
:
0.026
Distortion @ 85
What it is:
Amount of distortion.
When it matters:
85 dB.
Good value:
< 0.100
Noticeable difference:
0.100
Learn more
:
0.101
Distortion @ Max
What it is:
Amount of distortion.
When it matters:
85 dB.
Good value:
< 0.100
Noticeable difference:
0.100
Learn more
:
0.190
Relatively high distortion number overall, however, at higher volumes the amount of rise in distortion is acceptable and the sound doesn’t fall apart (unlike some other TVs).
Software and Inputs
Smart OS: Basic
The smart interface of the Vizio D Series 1080p 2016 isn't the prettiest but is straightforward enough to use and offers a good variety of apps. Most of the interface is quick and easy to navigate in. Without the help of a better remote, long text input can be a little awkward.
Apps
Most of the popular apps are available through the smart interface and the navigation through the different menus is straightforward.
TV Controls
A button located behind the left side of the TV can be use for limited controls such as opening the TV and switching inputs. It can still be accessed if the TV is mounted on a wall.
Remote
Remote
:
Basic
The remote is easy to use and has some handy popular apps shortcuts.
In The Box
– Remote
– Batteries
– Manual
Side Inputs
Rear Inputs
Total Inputs
HDMI
:
3
USB
:
1
Digital Optical Audio Out
:
1
Analog Audio Out 3.5mm
:
0
Analog Audio Out RCA
:
1
Component In
:
1
Composite In
:
1 (shared)
Tuner (Cable/Ant)
:
1
Ethernet
:
1
DisplayPort
:
0
IR In
:
0
SD/SDHC
:
0
Inputs Specifications
5.1 Passthrough ARC Dolby Digital
What it is:
TV can receive and pass Dolby Digital 5.1 signal to receiver via HDMI ARC.
When it matters:
5.1 audio on DVDs and Blu-rays.
:
No
5.1 Passthrough ARC DTS
What it is:
TV can receive and pass DTS 5.1 signal to receiver via HDMI ARC.
When it matters:
5.1 audio on DVDs and Blu-rays.
:
No
5.1 Passthrough Optical Dolby Digital
What it is:
TV can receive and pass Dolby Digital signal to receiver via digital optical.
When it matters:
5.1 audio on DVDs and Blu-rays.
:
Yes
5.1 Passthrough Optical DTS
What it is:
TV can receive and pass DTS signal to receiver via digital optical.
When it matters:
5.1 audio on DVDs and Blu-rays.
:
Yes
HDMI 2.0 Full Bandwith
:
No
ARC
:
Yes (HDMI 1)
USB 3
:
No
HDCP 2.2
:
No
CEC
:
Yes
MHL
:
No
Variable Analog Audio Out
:
No
Misc
Pixels
Other
60i:
Yes
Power Consumption
:
44 W
Power Consumption (Max)
:
124 W
Firmware
:
1.90.34.0000
Differences between Sizes and Variants
The Vizio D Series 1080p 2016 TV has a lot of variants. The one we bought is the 50" with SKU D50-D1. The 43" model D43-D1 has an IPS panel that produce weaker blacks and contrast but wider/better viewing angle. Except for this particular size, we expect our review to be valid for the other sizes of the Vizio D 1080p 2016. Some other differences can be found depending on sizes as illustrated in the table below. Our review is not valid for the 4k UHD variations of the Vizio D Series which we have reviewed separately here.
If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their Vizio D Series doesn't correspond to our review, let us know and we will update the review.
| Size | Model | Effective Refresh Rate | Real Refresh Rate | HDMI # | Speakers | DTS TruVolume | Backlight | Local Dimming Zones |
| 32" | D32-D1 | 120 Hz | 60 Hz | 2 | 5W x 2 | Yes | Direct | N/A |
| 40" | D40-D1 | 120 Hz | 60 Hz | 2 | 8W x 2 | Yes | Direct | N/A |
| 43" | D43-D1 | 120 Hz | 60 Hz | 2 | 10W x 2 | Yes | FALD | 5 |
| 43" | D43-D2 | 120 Hz | 60 Hz | 3 | 10W x 2 | No | FALD | 5 |
| 48" | D48-D0 | 120 Hz | 60 Hz | 3 | 10W x 2 | Yes | FALD | 5 |
| 50" | D50-D1 | 120 Hz | 60 Hz | 3 | 10W x 2 | Yes | FALD | 12 |
| 55" | D55-D2 | 120 Hz | 60 Hz | 3 | 15W x 2 | No | FALD | 12 |
| 60" | D60-D3 | 120 Hz | 60 Hz | 3 | 10W x 2 | No | FALD | 10 |
| 65" | D65-D2 | 120 Hz | 60 Hz | 3 | 15W x 2 | No | FALD | 16 |
| 70" | D70-D3 | 120 Hz | 60 Hz | 3 | 10W x 2 | No | FALD | 12 |
Compared to other TVs
Top left: Vizio E 1080p 2015 (E60-C3). Bottom left: Sony W650D (KDL-40W650D). Middle: Vizio D Series 1080p (D50-D1). Top right: LG LF6300 (49LF6300). Bottom right: TCL FS3750 (48FS3750). Unlike our other photographs, this picture wasn't taken under a controlled environment, so do not draw conclusions from it.
The Vizio D Series 1080p 2016 has a lot of bang for the buck. It is sold cheaper than many comparable TVs for the same kind of features. This makes it easy to recommend.
7.5
Vizio D Series 4k 2016
40" 50" 55" 58" 65"
CHECK PRICE
The Vizio D Series 4k 2016 is very similar to the 1080p version. Almost all our measurements are the same. If you are watching mostly low resolution content, stick to the cheaper 1080p.
7.1
TCL FS3750
40" 48" 55"
CHECK PRICE
The TCL FS3750 isn't as good as the Vizio, especially for watching movies in the dark. But overall, the picture quality is not far off, so you might want to save a little bit by opting for the TCL, which is good enough for people looking for a basic TV.
Conclusion
CHECK PRICE
The Vizio D Series 1080p 2016 is a good basic TV. Even if it doesn’t offer all the latest features, the picture quality is good both in a dark and a bright room. It is also a great gaming TV, due to its low input lag and motion blur. The picture quality isn’t as good at an angle though. It is also available in 4k with pretty much the same picture quality (we reviewed the 4k UHD version separately here).
SCORES
7.5
Overall
7.0
Movies & TV
8.0
Sports
8.6
Video Games
6.4
Living Room
6.5
Sound
Source: www.rtings.com