VIZIO D-SeriesD32f-J04 32 inch TV: In-Depth Review and Customer Opinions

The VIZIO D32f-J04 is a 32-inch smart LED TV that was released in 2021 as part of VIZIO's budget-friendly D-Series. This model provides an impressive display, robust smart features, and decent audio quality at an affordable price point.

The D32f-J04 has a slim profile and minimalist design that will look great in any room. The 32-inch screen size is well-suited for smaller spaces like bedrooms, dorm rooms, kitchens, and offices. It uses VIZIO's full array LED backlighting technology for uniform illumination across the entire screen.

Overall, the D32f-J04 delivers good value and performance for most everyday TV viewing and streaming needs. Its combination of picture quality, smart capabilities, and compact form factor make it a solid choice if you're looking for an entry-level LED TV on a budget.

Display Quality

The VIZIO D-Series D32f-J04 has a 32-inch LED display with a resolution of 720p HD (1366 x 768 pixels). The panel type is an LCD (liquid crystal display) with direct LED backlighting.

The display brightness is measured at 200 nits, which is decent for a budget TV of this size. Brightness allows you to view the TV in brightly lit rooms without the picture appearing washed out.

Viewing angles on this VIZIO model are fairly wide at 176° (horizontal) and 176° (vertical). This means you can view the screen from the side without color and contrast shifting significantly. The wide viewing angles make this TV suitable for placing in rooms where viewers will be watching from multiple positions.

Overall the display quality provides a sharp 720p HD picture, adequate brightness, and good viewing angles from different seats in your living room or bedroom. It's a great display for casual TV watching and streaming movies and shows.

Another 32-inch TV option to consider is the SAMSUNG UN32N5300AFXZA. This model has a 1080p Full HD resolution, providing an even crisper and more detailed picture than the 720p VIZIO. The Samsung display is edge-lit LED backlighting, which allows for a slimmer profile. Brightness measures at 270 nits, making it slightly brighter than the VIZIO for handling ambient light. Viewing angles are also very wide at 178°, so the picture remains accurate when watching from the side. Overall, the Samsung UN32N5300AFXZA delivers excellent display quality with sharp 1080p resolution, bright screen, and wide viewing angles. It's a great option if you want to step up to 1080p Full HD in a 32-inch size.

Audio Quality

The VIZIO D-Series D32f-J04 comes equipped with stereo speakers that provide decent audio for a budget 32-inch TV. The speakers have a total power output of 8 watts, which is fairly standard for this size screen.

The audio is clear for dialog in TV shows and movies, though lacking in bass. For an immersive audio experience, connecting the TV to a soundbar or external speaker system is recommended.

There are several sound modes to choose from to optimize the audio for different content, including Standard, Movie, Music, and Game. The TV also features auto volume leveling to prevent sudden volume spikes during commercials or channel changes.

Overall, the built-in speakers deliver passable sound quality for casual viewing. But audiophiles will likely want a dedicated sound system to get truly powerful and nuanced audio from the D32f-J04. The TV provides several options for connecting audio devices via RCA, digital optical audio, and HDMI ARC.

When comparing the VIZIO D32f-J04 to other 32-inch TVs on the market, the Hoowel GT-S32A01 is a top competitor in terms of audio quality. The Hoowel model features 12W stereo speakers with Dolby Audio support. This provides louder and richer sound than the VIZIO's 8W speakers. The Hoowel also has more sound mode options, including Movie, Music, Voice, and Dynamic modes to optimize the audio based on content type. One advantage of the VIZIO is the auto volume leveling, which the Hoowel lacks. But overall, the Hoowel GT-S32A01 delivers superior built-in audio performance. Those looking for robust sound from their 32-inch TV may want to consider the Hoowel over the VIZIO model.

In the end, the ideal audio solution for any TV is connecting it to an external speaker system like a soundbar or home theater speakers. This allows the flexibility to choose speakers that match your audio needs and budget. But for reliance on the internal TV speakers alone, the Hoowel GT-S32A01 is a better choice than the VIZIO D32f-J04 if audio quality is a priority in your 32-inch TV purchase.

Smart TV Features

The VIZIO D-Series 32-inch smart TV comes with VIZIO's SmartCast operating system. This provides access to popular apps and streaming services like Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu and more through the home screen's app row or side rail.

Built-in Chromecast allows you to cast movies, shows, music, photos and more to the TV from compatible apps on your smartphone or tablet. This makes it easy to stream content from hundreds of apps.

The TV has built-in voice controls through Google Assistant and works with Alexa-enabled devices. You can use voice commands to search for entertainment, get answers on screen, control smart home devices and more. Hands-free voice control makes it simple to find something to watch or interact with the TV.

Overall, the D-Series delivers essential smart TV features like app streaming, casting and voice control in an affordable package. The intuitive SmartCast interface and responsive voice controls help you access a wide range of content.

Connectivity

The VIZIO D-Series 32-inch TV offers decent connectivity options for its price point. It has the following ports:

• 2 HDMI ports - The 2 HDMI ports support HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2. This allows you to connect 4K devices and game consoles. However, only having 2 ports may be limiting if you need to connect multiple devices.

• 1 USB port - There is a single USB 2.0 port on the side which can be used for playing media files off USB drives. A USB 3.0 port would have been better for faster data transfer speeds.

• Bluetooth - The TV has built-in Bluetooth which allows you to pair wireless headphones, speakers and other audio devices. This gives you an easy way to listen privately or enhance the audio.

• 802.11n WiFi - It comes equipped with 802.11n WiFi for internet connectivity. The WiFi is reasonably fast and stable for streaming shows and movies. However, it lacks support for newer standards like 802.11ac.

• Ethernet - There is an Ethernet port as well if you prefer using wired internet over WiFi. The wired connection typically offers faster and more reliable connectivity.

Overall, the connectivity options are decent but lack some advanced features found on higher-end models. The HDMI and USB ports may limit you if you need to connect multiple devices simultaneously. But the inclusion of Bluetooth and WiFi provides wireless connectivity options.

Design

The VIZIO D-Series D32f-J04 has an attractive, modern design with slim bezels and a black finish.

The bezels around the display are relatively thin, measuring just 0.39 inches on the sides and top. This creates a nearly bezel-less look when viewing content, making it ideal for movies and gaming where you want an immersive experience.

The TV has V-shaped legs on the ends that provide sturdy support. They have a small footprint, so the stand doesn't take up much space on your media console. The legs can be removed for wall mounting if desired.

Speaking of mounting, the D32f-J04 has standard VESA 200 x 200 mm mounting holes on the back. This allows you to use any wall mount that supports that size. With its lightweight design at just 7.95 lbs without the stand, it won't put too much strain on the mount or wall either.

Overall, the thin bezels, unobtrusive stand, and VESA mounting make this an attractive TV that should fit well in any living room, bedroom or den. The design provides flexibility for tabletop or wall use too.

Remote Control

The D-Series D32f-J04 comes with a simple yet functional remote control. The remote is lightweight and fits comfortably in the hand.

Buttons

The remote has all the usual buttons you'd expect - power, volume, channel rocker, input, etc. The buttons are large and easy to press. There's no number pad, but you can pull up an on-screen number pad.

Voice Control

The remote has a microphone for voice control. You can use your voice to launch apps, search for content, control playback, and more. Voice control worked well in testing and was able to understand commands accurately.

Range

The Bluetooth remote has excellent range. You can control the TV from around 30 feet away without any line of sight issues. As long as you're in the same room as the TV, the remote will work flawlessly.

Performance

The D-Series D32f-J04 offers decent performance for its price point. The quad-core processor is relatively responsive when navigating the smart TV interface and launching apps. Switching between inputs happens swiftly with minimal lag.

Upscaling of lower resolution content to 4K is fairly good thanks to VIZIO's IQ Active processor. Standard definition content doesn't look overly soft or blurred when upscaled. However, the upscaling and image processing can't compete with more premium TVs.

Casual gaming works well on this TV. Input lag measures around 20ms, which is typical for a budget 4K TV. Fast motion graphics in games appear smooth without much motion blur. The D-Series isn't ideal for competitive gaming, but provides a solid gaming experience for more casual gameplay.

The TV is capable of displaying 4K content at 60Hz, though only has a 60Hz native refresh rate panel. There is no support for 120Hz refresh rates. Performance is adequate for most everyday TV watching and casual gaming usage. Buyers wanting a more premium performance experience may need to look at higher-end models.

Pros & Cons

Overall, the VIZIO D32f-J04 has both positive and negative attributes to consider:

Pros

• Decent picture quality for the price
• Good black levels and contrast
• Low input lag is great for gaming
• Built-in Chromecast for easy streaming
• Works with Alexa and Google Assistant
• Simple remote

Cons

• Only 720p resolution
• Mediocre HDR performance
• Limited viewing angles
• Only 2 HDMI ports
• Underpowered speakers
• Basic smart TV platform lacks some apps
• No local dimming feature

Summary: The VIZIO D32f-J04 brings decent picture quality and smart features at an affordable price point. The HD resolution and limited HDR performance mean it's best suited for secondary rooms rather than premium home theater use. Still, built-in Chromecast, voice assistant support, low input lag, and an intuitive remote help make this a solid budget option. Screen size and connectivity are a bit limited compared to alternatives. Overall, it's a reasonably good value if your expectations align with the price.

Conclusion

The VIZIO D-Series 32-inch Smart TV (D32f-J04) provides good value for those looking for an affordable, entry-level 4K TV. Its strengths lie in its sharp 4K resolution, improved gaming performance, and SmartCast streaming platform which gives you access to popular apps. The D-Series lacks more advanced features like local dimming and doesn't get as bright as higher-end 4K sets. But for basic streaming and casual viewing, it serves most needs well.

For the budget-focused shopper, the D-Series hits a nice sweet spot between price and performance. It delivers a noticeable upgrade over 1080p TVs with impressive 4K clarity and HDR support. Motion handling is also surprisingly good for gaming and sports. The simple remote and intuitive SmartCast interface make it easy to start streaming quickly.

Overall, the D32f-J04 is one of the best 32-inch 4K smart TV values available. If you want good 4K picture quality on a small TV at an affordable price point, the VIZIO D-Series is a great option worth considering. It provides solid performance and features without breaking the bank.