The Westinghouse LVM-37w1 is a 37-inch LCD monitor that offers native 1080p resolution (1920-by-1080 pixels).  More importantly, the LVM-37w1 can actually accept a digital video signal at 1080p resolution (rare with the current generation of 1080p displays/televisions).

The LVM-37w1 is available now in retail stores for under $2000, and it provides a surprising number of connection options for a "value" monitor.  However, the lack of any integrated TV tuners regulates this display to "monitor" status or "HD Ready" at best..

In the lab, the LVM-37w1 managed its best performance using a DVI connection (improved color accuracy as well as access to the full 1080p resolution of the monitor.) Of the two DVI inputs provided, only one is capable of accepting 1080p input.  The other DVI input maxes out at 1280-by-1024 pixels or 1080i video.  Impressively, the LVM-37w1 managed an average contrast ratio of 719:1 ranking it second overall among the numerous flat panel LCDs we have tested.  Our experiments with the monitor's backlight control revealed it an ideal image brightness adjustment that further improved the contrast ratio at its lowest levels..

The monitor's significant downside is a sub-par video processor that did a poor job deinterlacing 480i/1080i video into the display's native progressive format.  Also, the monitor's analog video quality grew significantly worse (color accuracy/detail perseveration) as we moved from component, to s-video, to composite.  The LVM-37w1's lack of advanced color controls limits the ability to fine-tune its output.  However, its out of the box color performance using the warmest of the three color temperature presets provided was admirably close to the standard used in broadcast television..

With high-quality video sources such as HDTV or PC video, the Westinghouse LVM-37w1 provides impressively detailed image quality.  We were less impressed with its analog video performance, but the LVM-37w1 is undeniably one the least expensive ways of enjoying quality 1080p performance on a larger flat panel display.