Vizio debuts new plasmas, introduces high-end line

The quickly growing company will soon have plasma displays as cheap as $599, and is showing an interest in breaking into the high-end market with its XVT models.

Plasma TVs have traditionally been more expensive, which has fueled the growth of LCD TVs as the primary driver of the HDTV market. However, with Vizio's two newest entrants -- the 32" VP322 for $599 and the 42" VP422 for $799 -- that could begin to change.

At those prices, the sets would actually come in cheaper than their current LCD counterparts. Plasma does offer some advantages over LCD: Motion video is much clearer, and the contrast is generally better offering more vivid colors.

Each is capable of 720p resolution. The sets follow the company's first plasma, the VP50, which went on sale last year and was the top selling plasma in the first quarter of 2008 according to Quixel research.

The VP322 and VP422 have been available at Wal-Mart stores since May, although Wednesday's announcement signals much wider distribution. Certainly Wal-Mart has played a crucial part in Vizio's rise; in statements, the manufacturer repeatedly lauded the retailer's efforts, saying they "shared values."

Despite sharing that low price strategy, Vizio is showing interest in the high end market if its new XVT line is any indication. All sets in this line are 1080p, with two LCD models and one plasma coming in July of this year.

"Full 1080p resolution has certainly come of age, especially as lower cost, next generation HD disc players and games make their way into the warehouse and department store channels," sales chief Laynie Newsome said.

The LCD models would come in 42" and 47", and would include a 120 Hz refresh rate along with technology that reduces motion blur that is a common drawback to HDTVs based on the technology. Those sets would retail for $1,499 and $1,899 respectively.

A new 50" model would also be released at a price of $1,699 and would include a HDMI cable -- something that many manufacturers do not include. While most include composite and component cables, typically the HDMI cable is an additional purchase.

All the sets include SRS Labs' TruSurround XT and 5.1 surround sound capability, side HD game port, and two HDMI v1.3 inputs on the side and two more in the rear.

The plasma would also include HQV processing, and claims a 60,000 hour half-life -- which means the brightness is at least half of what it was out of the box.

According to data from iSuppli and DisplaySearch, Vizio held the third spot in LCD sales in both in the fourth quarter. At that time, the company was not among the top five in plasma sales in either survey.