Discontinued for a Reason
Written: Aug 10 '06 (Updated Nov 04 '06)
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Pros: You can watch television
Cons: But not as well as other models available
The Bottom Line: I am sure you can get better quality video from an iPod or PSP.
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| wsmunch's Full Review: Audiovox TS2050J 20 inch TV |
Can you argue with a free TV? No. Well.. maybe. It's a tough call to have an extra of something versus none at all, and I am not entirely sure of the Jensen TS2050J is just taking up valuable space or not. It's an interesting decision since the TV isn't really that big, but I don't use it much because sometimes it just might be better to read a book.
::: Quality :::
Who is Jensen for televisions anyway? I must have some rare model because you can't find this unit anywhere anymore and for good reasons too. Want to take a short trip back through time? Watch something on this tube. The TS2050J may be passable to play videogames on (because the game itself lends to some distraction), but I'm sure there are over a dozen TVs made four years ago around the same price that look MUCH better. The video quality is wretched on all counts. First off, the screen has a horrible refresh rate; if you pay close attention you can notice the "buzzing" of the picture both vertically and horizontally. While it's not something actively noticed, your eye is picking up on the vibrations and is having to work harder to interpret the signals. Much like word-processing on a bad monitor, this can lead to eye strain and headaches. This set has given me a slight headache or two from extended viewing sessions. Coupled with the vibration, the screen display isn't very sharp. Edges are blurred some, more than I've seen from any other recently-made television, and you get a halo effect of color overall. The quality of the incoming signal directly affects how much halo you get; bad reception will make it much worse. Oddly enough, the cable channels I have work well enough on other television sets I have, so I am very inclined to find fault with the Jensen TS2050J. The set controls allow adjustment to the picture, though it's not enough to bring it to an average standard. While making soap-operas extra soapy may be fun for some viewers, the halo'ing and blurring is very poor for reading text on the screen (videogame text or TV channel guides) or anything of detail. Aside from that, there is a general grain underlying the colors and tends to wash them out sometimes. The blues generally show well as with any color displayed with a boldness, but lighter and weaker shades are prone to some essence of "fading" or "greying" out.
The volume needs to "warm up" sometimes. While irregular about how it happens, it's very consistent nonetheless. Turning on the set, changing the channel or cycling through the inputs can diminish the sound setting temporarily. Sometimes it's subtle, but other times it's very noticeable that you have to wait 30 seconds or so as the sound crescendo's back to the proper level. It can be pretty irritating if you're watching TV late at night, with the sound audible enough so it doesn't wake anyone else, only to change the channel and not be able to hear anything, forcing you to micromanage the volume until you stick with a show. The Jensen TS2050J does get credit for a good level of volume as the set can get quite loud. Unfortunately, the speakers can't handle the sound very well and "too much" volume will tend to warm what you hear, giving a faint hum to words or music. "Too much" starts to happen around volume level 35, which is about a third of the total volume output (based on the volume bar).
::: Handling :::
The set is pretty light and easy to carry, due to the nature of the cheap plastics involved with it's construction. The way the box is shaped, you would be inclined to think "widescreen", but the aspect ratio is still 4:3. Most of the extra width goes towards the faux speakers (the dot grid) which makes you think "big sound" when in fact the speakers themselves are no larger than 2" by 4". The smaller, manageable size of the set makes it great to place on shelves, desks, windowsills, etc. While the case might want you to think so, the set does not have a flat-screen tube. It's only a slight curve, so you don't have to worry about dealing with too much image warping towards the edges of the screen. The compact size makes it a bit hardier since it's less likely to be dropped or banged around while trying to place it somewhere. Since I have not actively tried to break the unit, this is the extent of what I know of the durability.
The remote is very standard and vanilla. The television controls are very standard and easy to navigate. The TS2050J sports 2x A/V inputs as well as component, S-video and RCA connections. The secondary A/V input is located on the left side of the unit, which makes it easy to connect external peripherals (camcorders, consoles, etc) without disrupting the front-face of the set. Considering the price range of this television, the additional inputs are definitely a bonus.
* Verdict *
For the price, size and connections I guess this set isn't too bad. I would never spend my own money on it, since the video quality is absolutely sub-par, to which I am positive I can pay $20 more for something MUCH better. So far the set has withstood constant relocation, but it's a shame that no end of placement will over compensate for the horrible video quality. Don't ever buy this unit, even if you're just looking for a basic set. Give second thoughts if you would ever think to purchase a Jensen brand television set too.
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Read my review on purchasing extended warranties.
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): Free
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