Home audio & video: Poll: When it comes to TVs, what brand do you prefer?
- 7/11/07 2:11 PM
lg
by jackhammer111 - 7/15/07 8:00 PM In reply to: Poll: When it comes to TVs, what brand do you prefer? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
lg is a new name for an old company i think
i have a latest generation 37 in lcd. it is SPECTACULAR.
seems the new thing is high contrast and mine is 8000 to 1.
you compare them to 5000 to one and the difference is very noticeable.
the only hd sets that i've seen that are better are the plasma ones and you know how much difference in price there is.
i've had people that already have hd sets that can clearly see that my lg has a crisper image with sharper edges. the planet earth series on hdnet is mind boggling on it. (boggle boggle boggle boggle!)
Toshiba, Great Picture, Amazingly Durable
by pjpintomd - 7/16/07 8:51 AM In reply to: Poll: When it comes to TVs, what brand do you prefer? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
My mom has this old Toshiba TV with which I grew up. I think that Tv's older than me (it's about 25 years old) and yet it still works perfectly and has never broke down, and delivers a wonderfull image, taking into account that its not a flat screen. I currently own one I bought about 1 year ago when I moved out, and it hasn't shown any problems.
I prefer Hitachi!
by Thomas Niedererr - 7/16/07 3:18 PM In reply to: Poll: When it comes to TVs, what brand do you prefer? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I prefer Hitachi only because I have owned one for 7 years and never had a minute's trouble, and we use a TV HARD. It is on at least 6 hours a day. I hope I'm not making a mistake bragging like this. I'm knocking wood as I type. But on the other hand I've been chomping at the bit for a Hi Def anyway.
nantuck
Philips has always been there
by Joker S.D. - 7/16/07 8:55 PM In reply to: Poll: When it comes to TVs, what brand do you prefer? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
No matter what age or damage i currently own 2 philips old tvs they have been through damage, wear, and even loosing color but after all these years my philips have never gave up on me they still boostnice display not hd or flat but satisfying. oh and i game on 1 of them almost 24/7
JVC for functionality and reliability
by corecalifornia - 7/17/07 12:14 PM In reply to: Poll: When it comes to TVs, what brand do you prefer? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I've chosen JVC TVs for a couple decades because I've found that JVC TVs offer the best picture; best functionality in terms of controls and connections; and excellent reliability. I owned a JVC 27" TV for about 10 years; replaced with a JVC rear projection 60" for another 10 years; and replaced by a JVC 61" HD-ILA TV, which I bought about a month ago. My JVC TVs have always functioned flawlessly, never needing any repairs. The people that bought my used JVC TVs have not reported any problems.
SONY AND PANASONIC.
by Riverledge - 7/17/07 6:21 PM In reply to: Poll: When it comes to TVs, what brand do you prefer? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
IF SAMSUNG WERE A BIT BETTER, THEY'D BE ON MY LIST.
river.
It's Sony but watch out for Toshiba
by dbbcpa - 7/17/07 6:53 PM In reply to: Poll: When it comes to TVs, what brand do you prefer? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I've always liked Sony but my last TV was Toshiba because I couldn't justify the price difference. And Toshiba hasn't let me down yet and the quality is excellent. Look out Sony!
SONY + PANASONIC
by spyker_r - 7/18/07 10:07 AM In reply to: Poll: When it comes to TVs, what brand do you prefer? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Sony: Reliability, aesthetics & top of the line features/technology.
Panasonic: Reliability & value for money.
Philips: Reliability & value for money.
I would never buy a Toshiba ever again. they manufacture crappy products (including Laptops). I own a 29" Flat screen (conventional TV) & it died on me countless of times.
As far as i could recall, something in the circuit board blew several times & the picture tube failed twice.
Brochure states it has a Dynamic Bass feature ("BOMBA")... but apparently they omitted the Bass driver. The Audio sucks as well.
I think it was either built in Malaysia or Indonesia.
On the other hand, my 21" Panasonic TV ("Quintrix F") - also a flat screen conventional TV (Yes, "Made In Japan"), has got more powerful bass & better features like Component Video Inputs & 60Hz Progressive scan (2 features which are excellent for playing Video games & DVDs). Picture quality almost comparable to a Sony. I bought it when it was first launched. 8 years of pretty-high daily usage & still going strong, never faltering.
Regards to computer Flat LCD Panels, I'd go for Philips or Sony. They are very dependable & never fail me. They have impressively good features too. These 2 brands have exceptionally good A/V R&D, followed by Panasonic.
As for anything concerning electronics... look out for the "Made In Japan" insignia (The Japanese are superlatively proud of their achievements, hence the "Made In Japan" insignia is always conspicuously printed/marked). Examples are the Sony PSP & VAIO laptops.
These are usually better than those made in other countries (eg. China, Korea, east Europe, etc). Products coming straight out from Japan have the strictest QC (Quality Control) & will most certainly be slightly costlier. But I'd never give it a second thought. If I see it, I buy it (especially SONY LCD TVs Made In Japan).
Korean brands (Samsung, LG) are getting stronger yearly due to japan's economic uncertainties & top Japanese engineers are better paid to work in korea. But at the back of my mind, i still have doubts tho'. I'm not implying i'd never buy their products because i do not own anything that is Korean, however they still have a long way to go. And that also goes for their Automobiles (I'm a Car-Dealer, so i would know better). 
National taste?
by orthotox - 7/18/07 10:54 PM In reply to: Poll: When it comes to TVs, what brand do you prefer? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Pioneer plasma still looks the best. Its low rating suggests a typically american obsession with savings over substance, not to mention a likely constitutional weakness for signal television and sports spectacles over movies. Only in a great film does one really start to appreciate the spectacular colors these dream machines are capable of. Here in Canada, where we know how to do right by Hollywood's finest, Pioneers are everywhere.
PHILIPS and never again B&O
by todd-ao - 7/19/07 8:00 AM In reply to: Poll: When it comes to TVs, what brand do you prefer? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
When I was younger I always bought my own country´s highly profiled B&O television, radios and casette recorder. And they all frequently broke down with high reperation bills to follow. After I changed to Philips tv (2 different sizes) there has not yet been any repairing bills to pay. They just work and work with clear and true colours. So when one day I will be getting a flat one, Philips would surely be the first one I would look after.
Philips CRT - and other factors for the longevity of a TV
by slwilkie - 7/19/07 9:36 AM In reply to: PHILIPS and never again B&O by todd-aoI thought I would mention some factors about my larger sized portable Philips TV.
In previous posts I mentioned the age of it (15 years and counting) and the super picture it gives. When I first got it it broke down twice, on standby it shut down and wouldn't restart. However after it was repaired under warrenty. This was a small issue and one that was repaired free and very quickly.
The other point in assessing a TV's worth is its usage. Many people are mentioning this and it is a worthy point. In my TV's case I wouldn't say that it has had "hard usage." There is just me who watches it and although it gets use in the evening time when I get home. For most of its life I have been at college, doing an evening job and going out to do sport or with my friends, so to be honest it is me who has had the hard usage!
My wife tries to play Nintendo on it all day, but I try to discourage the over usage of the TV. Would be unfair if it died as a result of a game addiction! Saying that she has spoiled the mouse in days of my computer and the Nintendo controls - So the hard usage thing does have implications.
I have to agree with the contrast ratio mentioning, it does seem to make a difference. I am not sure what difference 100HZ makes. Flicker free screen? I don't get flicker on my TV in any case. How about pixelation? My old 50HZ TV doesn't suffer from that either. They (the marketing men) tell us that what we had was rubbish. Then they come out with High Definition, or Super Audio (or similar) - which incedentally brings your new digital equipment up to the standard of your old analogue!
Any doubters on that score just need to look at valve amplifiers and record players.
So the moral of the story is, buy the best you can afford, don't belive the hype and go with what you think is best (price, brand, features or good reviews). Use the TV as an aid to your life not AS your life, and it with a bit of luck and judgement last a long time. Lastly why spend money on a plasma or flat TV if it is going in a corner? Or if you live in a shoe-box, why sit right up to it with your nose pressed on the glasss?
With regard to brand names, arn't all plasma's based on Samsung flatpanel tech anyway?
Don't Assume Do Your Home Work
by cnetmessageman - 7/19/07 6:53 PM In reply to: PHILIPS and never again B&O by todd-aoMost of us make judgments based on our own past experience. This is not a bad thing, but in the ever quickening pace of change that is inherent in today's technology, that old standby is not as reliable as it used to be. TVs are no exception so what criteria can be used to select a "good" TV?
(1) The older technology is always going to be stabler than the newer bleeding edge one. But many newer models have improved features or more included standard features at lower cost. So how do we balance these? You have to establish priorities.
(2) Most TVs give you a very good picture. Is it important for you to have the very best picture possible and if so, what are you willing to sacrifice to get that?
Rear Projection (CRT Lamps)
offers the most reasonably priced option in fairly large screen sizes (even Sony). The technology has been around awhile, at least up to 720p resolutions, so in most cases these sets should be very dependable. For example: a Sony BRAVIA KDS-50A2020 50" Rear Projection 1080p TV from Brandsmart costs about $1,500. And the picture is exquisite. But, yes, there is the size thing although the modern cabinets (about 20" in depth) are significantly smaller that those of the past.
Before moving on I should state that despite a stellar reputation of dependability in the past, Sony's more recent record is far less favourable and there have been numerous complaints about intractable problems with even its Top-Of-The-Line models - particularly its TVs. Customer Service has not been that great either. So before doling out a lot of cash, do some research on the model you intend to purchase or at least a model similar to it. Particularly with TVs, don't be in a hurry to get the bleeding edge stuff. It's costly and there probably are bugs that still need to be addressed. This, of course, is part of the problem because unlike the "old days", everyone now rushes to be "the first to market" with a new idea and you in essence become beta testers. This "problem" is not specific to Sony but there are some manufacturers like Toshiba that seem willing to take a bit more time to get it "right".
Rear Projection (DLP)
requires significantly less space than the CRT version and usually offers the most attractive deals price-wise on large format TVs. A Samsung 50" DLP 1080p model costs about $1,400. Another advantage to DLP is that the lamps are not outrageously expensive to replace (as compared to a CRT lamp) although they do have a shorter life span. And doing so makes your picture look just new again. The reality is that the picture quality of all current TVs do fade with time (although the technology has improved and stabilized significantly). DLP TVs do produce a rainbow effect but most folks are not really bothered by this artifact.
LCD
are probably the most popular type of TVs today. They are thin and less obtrusive which certainly helps to sell their acquisition to your decor conscious partner. LCDs have come a long way and offer an affordable alternative with un-compromised picture quality (such as the Sharp Aquos 42" 1080p for $1,500). There is a bit of an issue with the slight blurring of quick moving images but you have to determine how significant that type of artifact is to you.
Plasma
last but not least is the most fragile but most "delicious" looking display. In my humble opinion, the older 720p plasmas still offer stiff competition to many of the newer 1080p non-plasma TVs. And the 1080p plasmas are drop dead beautiful (of course the price could slay you as well). The 1080p is bleeding edge stuff, particularly for Plasma models, so I would consul caution (but doesn't that Pioneer Elite Plasma look sensationally seductive ... oh where was I).
Many of the Philips TVs offer a brilliant display (using LED lighting technology) and very attractive pricing but the complaints (most within weeks or months) voiced by many consumers should give any potential purchaser serious pause. Some newer models are out now (2nd generation) that I haven't looked into so don't dismiss these prematurely.
Most TVs are optimized from the factory for the sale floor environment rather than your living room so don't expect the display to look the same when you get it home. Some manufacturers, like Hitachi, are more customer-friendly focused and provide better user adjustable setting in their setup menu. Explore this aspect as well in making your purchasing decision (see http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-8900_7-5153490-1.html ).
Industry experts recommend having the television calibrated by an ISF-certified technician but that may cost you about $400. A low cost DIY alternative is to buy and use one of the recommended software package (like Digital Video Essentials) that assists you in fine tuning your TV.
The main point is to avoid making brash assumptions. Do some research (like reading users' reviews and checking online forums) before dipping into your pocket. There are many good brands and models out there but also a few really poorly designed models.
Toshiba
Sony
Hitachi
Pioneer
Panasonic
Sharp
Samsung
HP
LG
Philips
Mitsubishi
JVC
just to name a few worth checking into.
Owned JVC and Magnavox in the past, Samsung in my future.
by 8IronBob - 6/12/08 2:06 PM In reply to: Don't Assume Do Your Home Work by cnetmessagemanFor old CRT TVs from the past 15 - 20 years, we've owned JVC and Magnavox primarily, because of their quality over those years. For now, in the LCD HDTV market, I'm definitely in a dead-heat tie between going for either Samsung or Sony, at this point, since those are the two best LCD brands on the planet. I'm pretty much going for a bang for the buck model, in either the Bravia Z4100 or Samsung A750 LCD, can't be too sure which one of those two would win out.
BOTH GREAT NEW LCD ADDITIONS.............
by Riverledge - 6/13/08 7:06 PM In reply to: Owned JVC and Magnavox in the past, Samsung in my future. by 8IronBobHOWEVER, I WOULD GO WITH THE SONY Z-4100.
JUST MY THOUGHT.
RIVER.
Depends on how well Amazon discounts the Z4100.
by 8IronBob - 6/19/08 2:21 PM In reply to: BOTH GREAT NEW LCD ADDITIONS............. by RiverledgeRight now, since I'm looking at getting my LCD from Amazon, it seems like they're still selling the Z4100 at MSRP, which is...heh. However, with the heavy discounts they've had on Samsung LCDs, I'm more than tempted to jump ship on the A750, since it's priced not that much more than the A650, and may be worth the extra couple of hundred.
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