Viewsonic Nextvision N6

Reviews: Multimedia

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Kurtis Kronk
Brian
ViewSonic
Dec. 27, 2003

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Testing

I have read a few other reviews on the N6 to see what other people thought of it, and I found that a few complained about the N6's PIP (Picture-In-Picture) feature not working. I had the same problem at first, but then I figured out the problem after talking with someone from ViewSonic. The problem was that the monitor's resolution must match the resolution you have the N6 set to (1280x1024 maximum). So if your monitor is set at 1600x1200, and the N6 is set at 1280x1024, then PIP will not work. If you desire to use PIP, you must set your monitor's resolution to a max of 1280x1024. So the PIP function does work, when used correctly. It would be nice if the N6 could handle higher resolutions, but that may be asking the impossible.

One thing to note here is that you can have your monitor on a higher resolution than 1280x1024 if you don't care about the PIP function. The resolution of the video coming from the N6 will never be greater than 1280x1024, but when you watch TV on the monitor (with the monitor on any given resolution) you can make the picture larger or smaller to an extent by scaling it through the N6's menu. This is useful for those that would like to use higher resolutions such as 1600x1200 while they are not using the N6, and don't want to switch monitor resolutions every time they wish to watch TV through the N6.

In case you are wondering, you can choose to display the PIP window in any corner of the screen. Simply hit the directional arrows on the remote control to move the PIP window while it is active.

The N6 also sports a nifty POP function. I had never heard of POP before, and I wasn't sure what to expect. Presumably, POP stands for Picture-Over-Picture. POP is actually quite useful. Rather than flipping through the channels until you find something worthy of your time, POP lets you "watch' nine channels at once. POP will start in the upper-left corner, and will go left to right, top to bottom. It will create an image from what is happening on each channel, and then after about 15 seconds it will refresh each image in the same order. Whichever channel you currently have selected will just play video like normal in its' square. To change to one of the channels shown in the POP, just select it, and then hit the SEL (select) button.

I must say that I was impressed at the quality of video that the N6 produced. Although the quality doesn't rival that of video made specifically to be displayed on the computer, the image quality was definitely of higher quality than what a television displays. Aside from image quality, it was great to be able to sit in my comfy computer chair whilst watching my favorite TV shows.

For testing the Xbox I used the S-Video adapter as I mentioned above. You can see the image quality in the pictures below. For testing the Xbox with the N6 I decided to play Splinter Cell, which (arguably) has the best graphics of any game available for the Xbox (at time of testing). The quality of video did not disappoint when playing my Xbox either. In fact I was more-so impressed with the Xbox's video quality than that of the TV (which isn't surprising).

The N6 is also quite customizable. Through the OSD (On-Screen-Display), which is basically the user menu, you can change all of the device's settings. There are six tabs total in the OSD: Picture, Video, TV, Audio, Parental Control, OSD. Each of these tabs has settings under it which may be customized. To learn more about the OSD, consult the manual.

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Page 1: Introduction
Page 2: Taking a Closer Look
Page 3: Setting up the N6
Page 4: Testing
Page 5: Conclusion

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21 User Comments

1 - Posted by dswluthier on December 28, 2003 - 11:34 am

I wanted to correct an error in your excellent report.

Though I have no experience with the ATI TV card, the All-in-Wonder cards have the ability to input from consoles. I have run the PS2 through both my old All-in-Wonder Radeon and All-in-Wonder Radeon 8500. The newer cards have the same accessability.

2 - Posted by Kurtis on January 1, 2004 - 4:15 pm

Thank you for that information dswluthier. I will go ahead and edit the conclusion to mention the ATI All-In-Wonder cards as well. An AIW card would also be a good choice considering you can get a 9800 Pro AIW that gives you most of the features of the N6 plus FM Tuner, and a Video Card of course. *The conclusion has now been updated*

3 - Posted by antonio on January 29, 2004 - 10:26 pm

I bought the Nextvisin n6 and I am disappointed with her, good image but he/she has many defects, (bad command, blue screen without signal, to select the entrances has to carry several times) the worst defect is to the image to oscillate when in fast pictures in the horizontal.
Does Kurtis tell me please, you already tested the nextvision n6 with video tape recorder with image pre Recorded on the tape?
Please Kurtis, is very important for me that you make the test with to cassette.
Thank you
Antonio

Excuse my English it is bad

4 - Posted by Kurtis on February 1, 2004 - 4:12 pm

I'm not sure what the problems you are having are caused by, but I experienced no problems during testing of the N6. I did not test the N6 with anything that I did not mention in the review. I'm sorry if I didn't do more testing, but I'm still not exactly sure what problems you had with it... Unfortunately, I no longer have the N6, it was a loaner, so I can not conduct any further testing. However, if you will contact ViewSonic support they will be more than happy to help you. Hope I was of some help, Antonio.

5 - Posted by antonio on February 2, 2004 - 7:38 pm

Tanks, Kurtis,the nextvision n6 problem is with VCR cassettes pre recorded the image oscillates in the orizontal, in the oder modes,tv,Svideo,YPbPr, the immage is ok, all the connections are ok, I am electronic engineer.

6 - Posted by Kurtis on February 3, 2004 - 6:45 pm

Hmm. So have you tried contacting ViewSonic about this? I can't really think of what the problem could be, but I'm pretty sure they will be able to help you fix it, or explain what the problem is. Try giving them a call and see what they say.

7 - Posted by normd_us on February 15, 2004 - 10:36 am

Great review Kurtis. I have an older version from Viewsonic that works great but it is not for HDTV. Were you able to compare a HDTV broadcast on the N6 vs another HDTV?

8 - Posted by Kurtis on February 15, 2004 - 8:33 pm

Nope, sorry. I mentioned everything I tested in the review. If it's not there I didn't do it. Glad you liked the review, sorry I can't test it any further (had to return it to ViewSonic)...

9 - Posted by antonio on March 19, 2004 - 8:47 pm

Kurtis, put in yor Review: "The nextvision n6 DOESN'T WORH WITH VIDEO TAPES, OLD VHS OR NEW DIGITAL HI8" I contacted viewsonic service and they sent me a new N6, same problem, with video tapes the image oscillates in the horizontal.In the N6 Manual says,"you can use yor computer monitor to view TV,CATV,VCR,DVD".(This is not true!).It is to deceive the customer.

10 - Posted by Guest on July 22, 2004 - 8:22 pm

One disappointing thing I found was that the "Closed Captioning" feature resets whenever you turn off the N6 video processor. All the other menu features stay active, but the CC always resets to "off".

I do home theater installations and the device has been great for Plasmas with no tuner built in, but it is difficult to work with for clients that need CC. Viewsonic plans no firware upgrade or fix for the problem. It is was it is. The alternative is to just leave the N6 video processor powered on at all times.

While the picture quality isn't outstanding, you get what you get for $200. You will definitely want to go back and adjust the picture settings (color, tint, brightness, sharpness, etc.) Use a cheap calibration DVD for this like Avia's "Guide to Home Theater". To help with bad looking quality on a bigger screen turn down sharpness all the way and disable the "3D Enhance". It might look slightly blurry at first, but this is closer to what was in the original source and reduces artifacts.

11 - Posted by antonio on August 5, 2004 - 9:37 am

Viewsonic? NO THANKS.
See my Email´s for the ViewSonic Technical Support Engineer.

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "ViewSonic"
> To: "Amarques"
> Sent: Sunday, May 16, 2004 10:21 PM
> Subject: EDB5858402208 ViewSonic Feedback
>
>
> Dear Valued Customer,
>
> Thank you for contacting ViewSonic Technical Support.
>
> At this time, there is not fix. We may have an update in the near future.
>
> Regards,
>
> ViewSonic Technical Support
> ViewSonic Corporation
> 381 Brea Canyon Road
> Walnut, CA 91789
>
>
>
> Hi
> The menu 3D Enhance doesn't change alone.
> The video tapes only work going to the menu 3D Enhance and to turn on an
> off.
> Whenever if wants to see a video tape I have to go to the menu 3D Enhance
> and turn on
> and off.
> You didn't answer my questions.
>
> 1st: That is a (bug) of Nextvision n6?
> 2nd: Are you to think to repair this problem?
> 3rd: If I contact the Viewsonic service in Portugal ( I live in Portugal)
> they order me a new unit with this problem (bug) repaired, or with the
same
> problem?
>
> Thanks
>
> António Marques
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "ViewSonic"
> To: "Amarques"
> Sent: Sunday, May 16, 2004 9:00 PM
> Subject: EDB5858402208 ViewSonic Feedback
>
>
> Dear Valued Customer,
>
> Thank you for contacting ViewSonic Technical Support.
>
> When you enable or disable the 3D Enhance feature it should stay that way
> permanently unless you change the setting. In most cases if you leave it
> off the picture quality should remain clear on any input. If this is not
> what you are experiencing then you should replace the N6. The problem is
> does not appear on all N6 units, it may just be your own.
>
> Regards,
>
> ViewSonic Technical Support
> ViewSonic Corporation
> 381 Brea Canyon Road
> Walnut, CA 91789
>
>
>
> Hi
> Ok now works, but .
> I have to go to the menu (3d Enhance) and turn off.
> Whenever if I want to see a video tape, or turn off the Nextvision n6, I
> have to do that, this is very painful, I have to push 10 times in the keys
> of the remote control.
> To the end of 10 to 20 minutes, of play a video tape, the problem returns,
I
> have to go again to the menu (3d Enhance) and to turn on and off, again,
> this is very painful.
> I have some questions for you:
> 1st: That is a (bug) of Nextvision n6?
> 2nd: Are you to think to repair this problem?
> 3rd: If I contact the Viewsonic service in Portugal ( I live in Portugal)
> they order me a new unit with this problem (bug) repaired, or with the
same
> problem?
>
> Thanks
>
> António Marques
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "ViewSonic"
> To: "Amarques"
> Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2004 11:14 PM
> Subject: EDB5858402208 ViewSonic Feedback
>
>
> Dear Valued Customer,
>
> Thank you for contacting ViewSonic Technical Support.
>
> In the n6 menu under video is an option for3d Enhance. Please turn this
> feature off. This should solve the problem.
>
> Regards,
>
> ViewSonic Technical Support
> ViewSonic Corporation
> 381 Brea Canyon Road
> Walnut, CA 91789
>
>
>
> YOU RECEIVED MY EMAIL WITH A VIDEO FILE IN ATTACHMENT ????
> DO YOU ANSWER ME OR NOT?
>
> António Marques
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Amarques"
> To: "ViewSonic"
> Sent: Sunday, April 25, 2004 11:24 PM
> Subject: Re: Tracking # EDB5858402208 Re: ViewSonic Feedback
>
>
> > Hi
> > Please tell me that is wrong in my setup.
> > See my video in atachement.
> > The machine im video atachement is: (Grundig model LC735E ) Hi8
analogic.
> > The problem only happens with, analogic tapes (VHS, HI8, VHSC, SVHS) .
> >
> > Thank you for answering me.
> >
> > António Marques
> >
> >
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "ViewSonic"
> To: "A.Marques"
> Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 6:14 PM
> Subject: Tracking # EDB5858402208 Re: ViewSonic Feedback
>
>
> Dear Valued Customer,
>
> Thank you for your inquiry regarding the N6.
>
> It should work fine with tapes, but if we have sent you two units then
there
> may an incompatibility with your set up. Does the problem with the tapes
> happen on all inputs?
>
> Best Regards,
> Mike W.
> Technical Support Lead
> ViewSonic Corporation
>
> -----------------------------
>
>
> I bought Nextvision N6, it works well in all the modes, RGB, S-video,
> Composite, the problem is with video tapes , old VHS or new HI8, the image
> oscillates in the horizontal. I contacted your service and they sent me a
> new N6, same problem!.
> Please see attached video file with Problem.
> My question is, the N6 work or not with tapes?
>
> Thanks
>
> António Marques
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "ViewSonic"
> To: "Antonio"
> Sent: Monday, March 22, 2004 1:50 AM
> Subject: Tracking # EDB5858402208 Re: ViewSonic Feedback
>
>
> Dear Antonio:
>
> Thank you for your inquiry.
>
> The N6 works like a relay. You can use Camera, VCR the N6 can display the
> image via a RGB out connection. Therefore the tape type does not matter.
> Please see attached file.
>
> If you need further assistance you can call ViewSonic technical support at
> 1-800-888-8583 for technical assistance.
>
> Thank you for giving us the opportunity to provide assistance.
>
> Best Regards,
> Laurent L
> ViewSonic Technical Support Engineer
> 1-800-888-8583
>
> -----------------------------
>
>
> ViewSonic Instant Support
>
> noHold Generic
>
> Session ID
> 72710
> Username
> Antonio
> Email Address
> antonio@
> What information were you searching for?
> The video processor Nextvision N6 works with old VHS tape or new
> digal Hi8 tapes,or any type of video tape?

12 - Posted by Guest on September 17, 2004 - 12:42 am

Dear Kurtis,

Have you tested the N6 next vision on a LCD? I have Viewsonic's VX900 LCD and I want to see if the quality is still as good (I'm mainly interested in finding the best solution to hook up my PS2 and my Gamecube to my monitor and at the same time, producing the best graphics).

Thx

Ian

13 - Posted by Kurtis on September 17, 2004 - 2:52 am

Sorry Ian, but the N6 was reviewed on loan from ViewSonic. I only tested it with my ViewSonic P225fb CRT monitor. I'm pretty sure the quality will still be just as good on an LCD though, so long as the LCD is of good quality.

14 - Posted by Guest on December 3, 2004 - 12:52 pm

HI Kurtis Please help me with my dilemma, I want to get a tv tuner like the N6 cause i want to hook up my ps2 to my monitor to save space and money...But i cant decide what to buy, here are some I consider:

Viewsonic NextVision N6
AverMedia TVBox 9
Media EZV-BOX 3DPro
Hewlett Packard Leadtek WinFast TV PRO

Please give me an opinion on what is best to buy for that purpose. Thanks!

15 - Posted by Guest on December 25, 2004 - 3:19 pm

<>

Shouldn't that say "output" where it says "input," and vice versa?

Also, while the specs say it can accept 1080i HD input, the most horizontal lines it can output is 1024. I wonder how 1080i video winds up displayed.

16 - Posted by Jeff Roncatto on January 5, 2005 - 7:31 am

Dear Sir I intend to use the nextVision 6 with a Sony VPH 1272 CRT projector. Will it work/improve image quality ?
Thanks.

17 - Posted by Guest on January 6, 2005 - 4:16 pm

Kurtis, you mentioned running your xbox with S-Video on the N6, wouldn't it have better quality if you ran it through RGB instead, provided most games supports 480p or higher now.

18 - Posted by Guest on January 14, 2005 - 2:17 pm

Thanks for a great review kurtis!
I was curious if anyone has found a remote code that works with this unit. I emailed viewsonic about this and they said none exist. Has anyone tried any codes from any other manufactuer that work? Or has anyone had sucess with a learning remote?

19 - Posted by Guest on February 7, 2005 - 12:39 pm

I have a nextvision n6 is there any way to connect this unit up with a DirectTv satellite system going to a Benq 7200 projector, couildn't figure this one out

20 - Posted by Guest on April 19, 2005 - 4:21 pm

I bought my N6 about 1 1/2 years ago and this 2nd one (1st one replaced by Viewsonic, same problem) has problems with 3:2 pulldown. Any ntsc signal breaks up on moving scenes and even when the pic isn't falling apart from horrid 3:2 pulldown, the pic quality is very poor. I tested all inputs (ant/cable, s-video, component, composite) with dvd player and cable box and tv signals, they all suck. The only way this N6 works well is with a progressive (non-interlaced) input from my dvd player. In this case the pic quality is pretty good.

I confirmed with Nextvision exactly what I was observing as the tech viewed the same thing on their N6 in the showroom with non-progressive signals. In any case they sent me another N6 which had the same problem. It's not a defect, it's an engineering fault.

I would steer very clear (no pun) away from the N6 unless all you intend on feeding it is a progressive signal.

It can't de-interlace worth a crap.

21 - Posted by katmandoitall on May 25, 2005 - 5:24 pm

I had a N6 fail in less than 2 years. It developed dotted squiggly lines in it. I placed my old MB50 on the same cables and monitor to eliminate the possibility of the noise being in them, the lines went away. The N6 cost me nearly $190 (US) and it's not worth the price.
Viewsonic does NOT REPAIR this item. It's a throw away and is far to expensive for this sort of "support". It will be my LAST product from Viewsonic. They are dumping their crap on us and I'm not recommending them to anyone.
izzynormal@libcom.com
Paul in Pittsburgh

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