Aquaview 17-inch Waterproof LCD Display Review

Introduction

When we heard of the Aquaview television, we were in the process of remodeling and renovating a bathroom. Truth be told, it was a complete tear-out of the previous bathroom, including the removal and rebuilding of several walls in order to increase the size of the room. When we discovered that Aquaview had a system that allowed for a 17-inch widescreen LCD TV to be installed into a room like this without fear of water or moisture damage, we started a dialogue to find out more about the product. After some discussion, we decided that this would be a grand opportunity to install the product and work it into our remodeling plan.

Features and Favorites

The Aquaview 17” widescreen TV has enough features to serve very well for this type of installation and use. It’s strengths are in its waterproof nature and it’s flexibility for installation, so we won’t be running HQV tests to determine how well this TV stacks up against other flat panel displays – it’s simply a one-of-a-kind product that is perfect for the custom installer who wants to really impress a consumer looking for something different. Taking a look at the package, we can see the following stand-out features:

• Waterproof Enclosure System
  Once everything is set into place the Aquaview D2 system is completely splash and moisture resistant – making it the world’s first LCD TV system to be able to handle in-shower and over-tub installation with reliable, predictable results.
• Built-in Amplifier and External Stereo Speaker
  As part of the complete system, the Aquaview D2 comes with a dual-tweeter, single enclosure loudspeaker design that saves room and allows stereo sound to come from a single speaker. This is handy for installations that don’t have enough room to add a second speaker, and honestly a single speaker design just seems to work better in a bathroom environment.
• Multiple A/V Inputs
  With support for VGA, component, s-video and composite inputs, this 15-inch widescreen display is going to be able to handle just about any video source you throw at it.
• NTSC Tuner
  If you’ve got a TV in that bathroom, one of the primary uses can be to catch the morning news. An included NTSC tuner will enable you to easily tie in a cableTV line or antenna and immediately benefit from a fully-functional TV.
• Available Colors and Sizes
  What good is a waterproof LCD TV if it doesn't meet your size requirements or color scheme? Aquaview has standard sizes of 15-inch, 17-inch and 17-inch widescreen and colors come as white, black, or satin. You can also get a mirror finish for an additional cost.

Throughout this review you may be tempted to compare the D2 to other flat screen displays – especially in terms of screen size and price – but don’t forget the fact that this is a complete system designed for the bathroom or other waterproof uses. It’s in a class of its own, and until competition heats up, this is about the only game in town – and I know plenty of installers that will want to play.

Connections

You have several solid options when connecting to the D2, including VGA (PC RGB) component video, antenna/cable (RF), s-video or even composite video. Audio inputs are available as RCA stereo or 1/8” stereo mini from a PC.

We used the VGA, component and composite video inputs in our testing as well as the onboard NTSC tuner. Obviously component delivers the best picture, but the standard definition cable performance was also very excellent - and on a 17-inch display it's a safe bet that most material is going to look very good.

Basic Setup and Installation

When installing the Aquaview TV you will want to run and connect all of the inputs if possible. You simply don't want to run into a situation later where you could have utilized an additional input. For certain you want to terminate the VGA, component and composite terminals. One excellent idea for an installation like this would be to utilize a system like Impact Acoustics' RapidRun technology. This is a field-termination modular cabling system that will allow you to change your mind later without having to pull new cables into your bathroom or kitchen.

OK, before you start thinking about cabling you'll need to frame in the included backbox. Getting this right will make sure your installation goes smoothly and with no hiccups. We ended up installing this product in to Tim, my brother-in-law's bathroom remodel. The location was the knee-wall that separated the new Jacuzzi tub from the walk-in shower stall. It was imperative that we do a thorough installation since the television would be susceptible, not only to steam and indirect moisture, but also from direct splashing at the tub level.

We started with the rough framing. The backbox to the Aquaview TV is roughly 0.25" wider and taller than the television itself. You can take an accurate measurement yourself before framing out the structure into which the backbox will be mounted. Don't forget to allow yourself room to cut holes for running the audio and video supply cables to the television. We drilled two 1-inch holes so that we could separate power and the wired remote control from the video feeds (always a good idea). If you notice, we also made sure to have a "double wall" between any water supply lines and the backbox. Just because the front of the Aquaview is waterproof once installed, doesn't mean the rear of the unit can handle incidental water seepage - and we didn’t want to take any chances. The end result was a well-structured wall that framed out a perfect spot for our 17-inch widescreen waterproof television.

The next step would be to rough-in the backbox - remembering to keep the screws loose for later fine-tuning (there are horizontal slots on the sides of the backbox which allow you to move the unit in and out as need to match your finished tile depth. At this point, go ahead and run your wires and be sure to leave enough extra in the backbox so that you can remove and service the television, but obviously not so much that you can't fit everything into the backbox.

Once everything was in place, we decided to do a short "test run" of the system. The last thing we wanted was to cover everything up only to discover some cabling or other problem that could no longer be effectively remedied. I would recommend this with any install, and it was fun to watch my brother-in-law Tim catching the game on a Saturday afternoon as we took a brief break from working on the room. If you are putting the Aquaview TV into a knee wall as we were doing be sure to have enough stability on the wall (typically in the form of cross-bracing) so that you don't end up with crack in the grout lines from the wall shifting and stressing.

After rough-in you continue on with your work until you have laid in the drywall/hardyboard/durock, applied mastic and tiled over the finished wall. Be sure to tile all the way up to the backbox edge, but allow yourself the ability to remove the backbox should that ever become necessary (without having to rip out the surrounding tile). A nice tight fit will make for a smaller bead of silicone once you are done. After your tiling is completed, and you've grouted your lines, go back and install the television. The television assembly magnetically seals to the backbox, ensuring that the gasket around the set is tight and moisture won't get in. Aquaview recommends (strongly) that you use a glass installation system (suction-cup device) for the final installation to ensure that you don't crack the surrounding glass frame. Once everything is in place, run a bead of silicone around the set and you're all done. If you ever need to access it, simply cut around the unit with a razor knife, remove the set and replace with new silicone. Now THAT'S good product design!

Setup and Menu System

The Setup of the Aquaview TV mirrors the system utilized in the Zenith Z26LZ5R we reviewed some time ago, so I won't go into full details here. You can check out that review online for a full breakdown of features, but rest assured that you can control the basic picture controls and even add audio EQ. It's an easy to use menu system and doesn't take any special skill or knowledge to setup. "So easy, even a caveman can do it" comes to mind when using this system.

There was no real User Manual for this set when we did the install (it was still being completed) but we never found anything particularly difficult. At one point we had to program the water resistant remote control and the short instructions shown on the back of the remote were completely sufficient to the task. Installation of the backbox was by far the most intensive part of the installation process, but once you have that measured and positioned, there's really nothing to it (thanks to the presence of adjustable depth slots).

Remote Control(s)

Our Aquaview TV came with a three straightforward remote controls. None of them were particularly impressive. There was an LG-branded remote which had th4e most features, a "waterproof" remote (which we found out was actually just water resistant), and a hard-wired remote that can be installed into the wall.

We decided to test the waterproof remote by dropping it into the tub (OK, actually my nephew dropped it in, but at that point we decided to test it). It was only underwater for a couple of seconds, but it ceased to function and would no longer control the television. We dried it off, removed the battery and reprogrammed it and it continued to function correctly. As a result we've dubbed it more of a water resistant remote, just keep that in mind. The LG-branded remote worked perfectly with no problems.

The hard-wired remote is a great-looking device, simplistic and elegant. It has a chrome trim around the edge and features a power button (very important), volume and channel buttons. There are also very important aspect and input (video) buttons as well. This is just about everything you need in order to successfully use the TV and keeps you from having to have a remote control around that you could lose or misplace (or drop in the tub!) Aquaview also has a float remote that is completely waterproof (we didn't review this one) so if you dream of reaching in the water for the remote you have an option for that too.

Volume control and channel selection are navigated via the ergonomically-located center 4-way switch. The enter button is positioned in the center and nothing could be simpler. A direct-access number pad is provided as are buttons to cycle through the available audio and video modes.

The Audio Performance

If you take a close look at the speaker you'll note that it has two sets of inputs. This is because it is a single woofer, dual tweeter design that allows for a "stereo" image to be sent from one enclosure. The idea is not new and does a decent job of allowing left and right information to be sent into close quarters (as is common with bathrooms). We found the speaker to be sufficiently loud for the bathroom and it didn't distort until you maxed out the volume (at which point it was a bit too loud for our room). If you have a cavernous bathroom you may want to opt for getting separate speakers to separate the audio sources.

Viewing Evaluation

TV: College Football
We checked out a lot of program material on this set, but decided to start with some College Football (hey, we were working on a Saturday!) The image was clear and clean - but to be honest, this is what we expected for a 17-inch widescreen LCD display. I noticed no problem with blurring, though this certainly wasn't a high-performance display as noted by its lack of advanced calibration options or features. What was impressive was its brightness. You can really get the unit to show a nice, vivid picture even with all the lights on (as shown here in the photo). One thing we did notice was the potential for glare as the screen is polished and somewhat reflective - welcome to just about all flat panel displays. To say that this picture would be enjoyable while taking a nice bath is an understatement - this is simply a very cool product and our actual use of it allowed the mental picture we had to be fully realized.

We viewed other TV material as well and were very pleased at the results. This is a nice display and the picture was always clear and bright:

 

DVD: Blue Collar Comedy Tour
Yes, it's not a high quality, action-packed DVD, but we simply wanted to see how the system performed with a standard definition DVD. The results were pleasing and I knew that this display not only handled NTSC cable and off-air channels well, but also DVD material fed through the component inputs. Skin detail was present and the contrast of the set allowed black levels to come across distinctly. IN the picture we took you can notice a glare off the screen - this is simply something you'll want to note and ensure that you have the ability to close the blinds or curtains on any windows you may have behind the set.

Conclusion

While this may seem like an expensive 17-inch display, the market is such that there are not many products filling this needed area. In the word of custom AV installation I can imagine a whole fleet of clients who would gladly pay $2,500 installed (probably a whole lot more) for the ability to put a TV in their bathroom without the fear of moisture interfering with the components over time. Costs will increase for installation into an existing home for obvious reasons. This is a show piece and a statement that really creates conversation. When showing off the completed bathroom it was always fun to see the looks on people's faces as they pointed and said "Is that a…."

"Yes", my brother-in-law would reply. That's a TV. In my tub. Cool.

I highly recommend this brand due to its attention to detail, the backbox installation methodology and the overall completed look of the finished piece. It's a great product and you aren't going to see a lot of competition in this area - so get one for your clients while it's still new.

The Score Card

The scoring below is based on each piece of equipment doing the duty it is designed for. The numbers are weighed heavily with respect to the individual cost of each unit, thus giving a rating roughly equal to:

Performance × Price Factor/Value = Rating

Audioholics.com note: The ratings indicated below are based on subjective listening and objective testing of the product in question. The rating scale is based on performance/value ratio. If you notice better performing products in future reviews that have lower numbers in certain areas, be aware that the value factor is most likely the culprit. Other Audioholics reviewers may rate products solely based on performance, and each reviewer has his/her own system for ratings.

Audioholics Rating Scale

• — Excellent
• — Very Good
• — Good
• — Fair
• — Poor

Metric	Rating
Detail and Resolution
Contrast and Black Levels
Color Reproduction
Calibration Options
Build Quality
Features
Remote Control
Performance
Value