If your heart is set on a big-screen HDTV but your wallet is resisting, you might be interested to learn more about Westinghouse's 60-inch VR-6025Z, which is currently available for under $1,000 through retailers like Amazon and Walmart. That's right: a 60-inch 1080p TV for under $1,000. We have not performed a hands-on review of the VR-6025Z, but here is a more comprehensive look at its features. This TV uses a traditional CCFL backlight, as opposed to LED lighting, and has a 120Hz refresh rate. It lacks higher-end options like 3D capability, Web services, and WiFi-readiness. The TV packaging uses recycled and recyclable materials and soy-based inks.

Additional Resources
• Read more LCD HDTV reviews from HomeTheaterReview.com's staff.
• Explore Blu-ray players in our Blu-ray Player Review section.

The connection panel is solid, including three HDMI inputs, two component video inputs, one PC/VGA input, and one RF input to access the internal tuners. The HDMI inputs are side-facing for easy access. The VR-6025Z lacks a network connection and a media-friendly port like USB or SD. (There is a USB port, but it's for service only.) Not surprisingly, the TV also lacks an RS-232 or IR port for integration into an advanced control system.

The A/V adjustments are lean, lacking some of the advanced options you'll find in a step-up TV. You can choose from four picture modes and three color-temperature presets, and basic controls for contrast, brightness, color, and sharpness are available. Noise reduction and "dynamic luminance" controls are located in the general setup menu, as opposed to the picture menu. The TV does not have a multiple-step backlight control to manually tailor the light output to suit your viewing environment, nor does it offer precise white balance adjustment, color management, gamma, and other higher-end controls. As I mentioned above, this TV has a 120Hz refresh rate to help reduce motion blur, but there's no customization options in the setup menu; Westinghouse says that this TV includes adjustable MEMC to produce smoother motion with film sources, but the owner's manual does not list controls in the setup menu. The VR-6025Z has three aspect-ratio modes: Standard, Fill, and Overscan.

On the audio side, you get four sound modes, plus bass, treble, and balance controls. The TV lacks any type of surround mode or volume-leveling control to minimize volume discrepancies between sources.

Read more about the high points and the low points of the VR-6025Z on Page 2.High Points
• Despite its budget price, the VR-6025Z has a 60-inch screen size and a 1080p resolution
• The TV has a 120Hz refresh rate to reduce motion blur.
• LCDs can be very bright, which makes them a good choice for a well-lit viewing environment.
• Westinghouse uses environmentally conscious packaging.
• The TV has a solid assortment of video inputs, with three HDMI, two component video, and one VGA.

Low Points
•
The VR-6025Z uses a CCFL backlight, not edge LED lighting; as such, its
form isn't quite as lean. It has a depth of 4.65 inches and weighs
about 90 pounds.
• LCD viewing angles are not as good you'll find with a plasma TV.
• The VR-6025Z does not include a Web platform, network connectivity, or media-friendly USB/SD ports
• Picture adjustments are limited.
• This is not a 3D-capable TV.
• The TV lacks an IR or RS-232 port.

Competition and Comparison
Compare the Westinghouse VR-6025Z with its
competition by reading the reviews for the Sanyo DP55441,
Sony BRAVIA BX420,
and Dynex DX-46L260A12.
Learn more about LCD TVs by visiting our LED/LCD HDTV section.

Conclusion
Westinghouse's
VR-6025Z is designed for the budget-conscious consumer who wants an
all-purpose big-screen HDTV and is willing to sacrifice bells and
whistles to get it. You still get a 1080p resolution, a 120Hz refresh
rate, and a solid connection panel. You don't get the Web/media services
you'll find on pricier sets; then again, with the money you save, you
could invest in a Roku 2 or Apple TV and enjoy those features via a
standalone box.

Additional Resources
• Read more LCD HDTV reviews from HomeTheaterReview.com's staff.
• Explore Blu-ray players in our Blu-ray Player Review section.