MT-HWJCT42B2AB Detailed Features

So now that the basics are behind us, it's time to find out what makes this 42" widescreen 1080p HDTV so special. While Honeywell appears to be marketing the Altura MLX series as a mid-level HDTV solution, there are more than enough premium features included to make this a very desirable product for even the most advanced level of consumer.

As a technical writer and network administrator, I try my best to avoid boring our readers with 'geek speak' in my reviews. However, when it comes to HDTV products, I believe that most home theater enthusiasts find themselves just as interested with the back of an HDTV unit as they are with the picture displayed on the front. In this section, we inspect the fine details that make up the Honeywell Altura MLX-series HDTV.

Around the backside of the 42" Altura you'll find ventilation openings only along and immediately below the top of the panel. I will admit that large LCD products don't tend to give off the heat they once did, so it makes sense that we no longer see the entire rear panel completely covered in ventilation slots as we have in the past. Positioned at the center point of the back panel are four mounting holes (M6 screw type) for an aftermarket wall-mount VESA mounting bracket. The spacing of the mounting holes is VESA 200 (200mm vertical x 200mm horizontal), in accordance with the industry standards set by the Video Electronics Standards Association. If a VESA standard mounting bracket is not available, a universal wall-mount bracket that can accommodate a screw spacing of 7.874" (W) x 7.874" (H) can be used.

The Honeywell Altura MT-HWJCT42B2AB may not be the biggest HDTV we've seen, but it packs as much (or more) punch as the others and offers seven different connection points for audio/video input. I suspect that these are more than enough video inputs for a 42" LCD unit, primarily because anyone who might actually need more than this will probably be shopping for the larger models anyway.

There are also several video input interfaces, as well. Three HDMI inputs are available, which is more than we have seen in other popular HDTV's, along with a single D-SUB analog video connection. The VGA connection works well for older HTPC's and computer workstations, and just to the right is a PC audio input which rounds out the functionality.

There are two component video inputs sets, both with stereo audio beneath them, for equipment without HDMI. Additionally, a single S-Video and composite video input are available for older equipment. For output, another set of composite video connections join a single mini-DIN 3.5mm headphone jack. Finally, the coaxial ATSC/NTSC tuner connection finishes out the SYXRT4791AB interface. It's also worth noting that all of these connections are identically available on the entire SOYO 91-series of HDTV products; from 29" up to this 47" model.

Moving from left to right, the connection interface offers the following choices:

1. HDMI/DVI #1 (A/V Quality Level = 5)
   This input can also be used as a DVI connection with an HDMI to DVI adaptor. A separate audio connection must be used as DVI does not transmit audio.
2. HDMI #2 (A/V Quality Level = 5)
   Connects to High Definition devices using an HDMI Cable. Both Audio and Video is transferred through this cable.
3. RGB (D-Sub) (Video quality = 2)
   Connects to the analog video output jack on your computer using an RGB / DB15 cable.
4. AV (A/V Quality Level = 2)
   Connects to your Audio/Video devices using a composite (Yellow/Red/White) cable for single stream video and dual-channel stereo.
5. S-Video (A/V Quality Level = 3)
   Connects to your video devices using an S-Video Cable.
6. Component Video #1 (A/V Quality Level = 4)
7. Component Video #2 (A/V Quality Level = 4)
   Connects to your Video devices to achieve higher quality video than S-Video and Composite using a Component (Red/Green/Blue) Cable into the YPbPr1 or YPbPr2 connection points.
8. Audio Input (in conjunction with RGB/DVI)
   Connects to the audio output jack on your computer or media player using a 3.5mm headphone jack.
9. Digital Audio Output (Coaxial)
   Connects to your digital audio devices to transmit a digital rather than an analog audio signal.
10. Antenna/Cable Input
    Connects to your antenna or Cable/Satellite set top box using a coaxial cable.
11. AC Power Receptacle
    Connects to a three-prong, grounded AC outlet.

Along the right-hand side of the Honeywell Altura MLX bezel are the menu buttons. While almost everything can be managed with these buttons alone, for most tasks it is far easier to use the included remote control. The buttons shown here operate the volume, channel selection, source, menu, and power.

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