I was looking at Samsung, but the volume was low and electrical cord fell short...
This Sony has excellent sound and quality volume.. The picture is sharp and adjusting is easy.
You will not be disappointed with this beautiful led.
Very happy with purchase and price..............
Selasa, 08 Maret 2011
Buy Sony Bravia EX700 Series 46-Inch LED HDTV
Sony Bravia EX700 Series 46-Inch LED HDTV, Black (Electronics)
I've had this TV for a couple of days and it exceeded all my expectations. I have been in the market for a new TV since November of 2009. I have done a ton of research and I believe that for the money this is one of the best TVs in the market. I looked at the Samsung LEDs and while they are good TVs, I find the glossy screens are distracting with all the reflections it creates. This can definitely be troublesome if your house has big windows next to the TV like mine does.
At the end, the Sony KDL-46EX700 was the perfect TV. Some of the great features include: ambient light sensor (the backlight changes depending on the amount of light source in the room), internet capabilities (Sony has a ton of widgets), exceeds energy star ratings, presence sensor (turns TV off when it does not sense a person in the room), motion flow control and finally a attractive modern clean design.
As for picture quality the TV shines on all level. I have U-Verse cable and the picture looks great in HD and SD. The picture quality on DVD is great, as well as, the Netflix streaming. Blu ray quality is out of this world.
As for sound quality, I am uncertain as my TV is connected to a home theater system. I really have nothing bad to say about this TV. The only knock that I have on this TV if any, is that the remote looks cheap. It does work, however, so I really can't complain. Plus I plan on replacing it with a universal remote.
At the end, the Sony KDL-46EX700 was the perfect TV. Some of the great features include: ambient light sensor (the backlight changes depending on the amount of light source in the room), internet capabilities (Sony has a ton of widgets), exceeds energy star ratings, presence sensor (turns TV off when it does not sense a person in the room), motion flow control and finally a attractive modern clean design.
As for picture quality the TV shines on all level. I have U-Verse cable and the picture looks great in HD and SD. The picture quality on DVD is great, as well as, the Netflix streaming. Blu ray quality is out of this world.
As for sound quality, I am uncertain as my TV is connected to a home theater system. I really have nothing bad to say about this TV. The only knock that I have on this TV if any, is that the remote looks cheap. It does work, however, so I really can't complain. Plus I plan on replacing it with a universal remote.
buy Sony Bravia KDL-52EX700 52-Inch 1080P 120Hz LED HDTV
Sony Bravia KDL-52EX700 52-Inch 1080P 120Hz LED HDTV, Black (Electronics)
I have had this TV for about 2 weeks and am still stunned by its beautiful picture. The colors are rich and deep and in HD everything is so crisp. This TV is in my Family Room Set-up which includes Pioneer Elite SC-25 receiver, LG Blu-Ray, Boston Accoustics center and surround speakers.
Pros:
4. Low energy consumption that all LED's enjoy
Cons:
I have had this TV for about 2 weeks and am still stunned by its beautiful picture. The colors are rich and deep and in HD everything is so crisp. This TV is in my Family Room Set-up which includes Pioneer Elite SC-25 receiver, LG Blu-Ray, Boston Accoustics center and surround speakers.
Pros:
- Picture (as mentioned above). Although it is close, the picture is better than my 46" Samsung LED-LCD that I have in the bedroom. Colors are warmer and image is just as crisp if not more so even though the screen is bigger. Images from the Blu-Ray are truly stunning
- Network connectivity. A wireless dongle was included with my set. However, I have hardwired to my LAN so I can't comment on the wireless capabilities. Hooking up to the network was seemless and streaming from a computer on my network was effortless with no hiccups. I haven't streamed HD video yet, so I can't comment.
- Cabinet. The screen is surrounded by a beautiful high gloss black cabinet. Probably will be a fingerprint and dust magnet. But the design is great.
4. Low energy consumption that all LED's enjoy
Cons:
- Base. I really didn't care for the base. So much so that I mounted instead my media center so I wouldn't have to use it.
- Slow to reflect channel changes when the next channel had a different resolution. Was able to fix to setting cable box to 1080i output only. Channel delay down to less than half a second vs. 2-3 seconds when changing from a 720p channel to a 1080i channel.
- SD picture nothing to write home about.
buy Sony BRAVIA NX 800 Series 52-Inch LCD TV
Sony BRAVIA NX 800 Series 52-Inch LCD TV, Black (Electronics)
Ok, I've been through 5 (yes five) TV's in the past 3 weeks since our original Sony rear projection died. We originally purchased a Sony EX700 series TV to replace the dead TV, however due to extremely poor viewing angles we returned it. We then had two Samsungs (UN55C6300) which were both defective so I decided to go back to Sony and get this TV (KDL52NX800). Here's my thoughts:
The Good:
The TV is absolutely beautiful to look at, when it's turned off. The "monolithic" design of the TV is very appealing and looks great. The picture quality is also very good on this set, although you can do better than what this set offers. The screen is fronted with a pane of glass, which adds to it's appearance as well. Internet widgets work great and a recent firmware update (automatic) made Netflix perfect. The menus are intuitive to use as well. The TV offers a vast array of inputs (4xHDMI) along with a blue-backlit remote control to control it all. Colors are awesome on this set and far superior to two Samsungs we've had prior to this set. The great colors are due to Sony's factory settings that are closer to THX than Samsung's.
The Bad:
This is my second Sony in as many weeks. We started off with an EX700 series but with it's rediculously narrow viewing angle we returned it and then went to Samsung. However, after two defective Samsungs we're back at Sony - this NX800 series. While the Samsung has a much wider viewing angle we gave up on the brand after receiving two defective units. The viewing angle on this Sony NX800 is similar to the EX700 - very narrow. At about about ~20 degrees off center things start to wash out. Also, the picture quality is not quite as sharp as the Samsung that we had however, after some adjustments the PQ can be improved. The remote control includes a cool blue backlight, but unfortunately the buttons are black plastic so you cannot read any labels (though you can see button layout). Lastly, the pane of glass on the front of this screen acts more like a mirror sometimes than it does glass. We've become accustomed to closing blinds and dimming lights while watching TV to overcome the reflections.
In general, we're quite happy with this set despite it's major drawback which is narrow viewing angle. You'll see the same complaint on most LCD's today - especially larger ones - however, the Sony seems to be the worst of the bunch. We'll live with it. Out of the box required very little color alteration to get it looking good unlike the Samsung which took me hours due to their "hot" color scheme. We did turn off MotionPlus to get rid of the "soap opera effect" that the new 120hz and 240hz TV's have so that was easy to overcome.
Having spent hours researching TV's I think Sony may be a better choice than other manufacturers despite their narrow angles. So much of this TV "just worked" right out of the box - including getting it working with Media Center (which was a serious PAIN with the Samsung). These sets are discontinued (last years model, replaced with NX810) so they can be had at pretty good pricing on the web and also at your local retailer.
The Good:
The TV is absolutely beautiful to look at, when it's turned off. The "monolithic" design of the TV is very appealing and looks great. The picture quality is also very good on this set, although you can do better than what this set offers. The screen is fronted with a pane of glass, which adds to it's appearance as well. Internet widgets work great and a recent firmware update (automatic) made Netflix perfect. The menus are intuitive to use as well. The TV offers a vast array of inputs (4xHDMI) along with a blue-backlit remote control to control it all. Colors are awesome on this set and far superior to two Samsungs we've had prior to this set. The great colors are due to Sony's factory settings that are closer to THX than Samsung's.
The Bad:
This is my second Sony in as many weeks. We started off with an EX700 series but with it's rediculously narrow viewing angle we returned it and then went to Samsung. However, after two defective Samsungs we're back at Sony - this NX800 series. While the Samsung has a much wider viewing angle we gave up on the brand after receiving two defective units. The viewing angle on this Sony NX800 is similar to the EX700 - very narrow. At about about ~20 degrees off center things start to wash out. Also, the picture quality is not quite as sharp as the Samsung that we had however, after some adjustments the PQ can be improved. The remote control includes a cool blue backlight, but unfortunately the buttons are black plastic so you cannot read any labels (though you can see button layout). Lastly, the pane of glass on the front of this screen acts more like a mirror sometimes than it does glass. We've become accustomed to closing blinds and dimming lights while watching TV to overcome the reflections.
In general, we're quite happy with this set despite it's major drawback which is narrow viewing angle. You'll see the same complaint on most LCD's today - especially larger ones - however, the Sony seems to be the worst of the bunch. We'll live with it. Out of the box required very little color alteration to get it looking good unlike the Samsung which took me hours due to their "hot" color scheme. We did turn off MotionPlus to get rid of the "soap opera effect" that the new 120hz and 240hz TV's have so that was easy to overcome.
Having spent hours researching TV's I think Sony may be a better choice than other manufacturers despite their narrow angles. So much of this TV "just worked" right out of the box - including getting it working with Media Center (which was a serious PAIN with the Samsung). These sets are discontinued (last years model, replaced with NX810) so they can be had at pretty good pricing on the web and also at your local retailer.
Buy Sony Bravia EX700 Series 60-Inch LCD with LED back-lighting HDTV
Sony Bravia EX700 Series 60-Inch LCD with LED back-lighting HDTV (KDL-60EX700) (Electronics)
I got my 60ex700 yesterday and I am really happy with it. It is a great TV. There was a little flashlighting and uniformity is not perfect but it seems you can tune it quite a bit. There are an amazing amount of settings and I have it set to be more than acceptable for me. Great price on a great TV. Contrast is great with deep blacks and white whites. The motionflow is great also.
Furthermore, the sound is acceptable for normal viewing and much better than I expected due to all the people dissing it. I have a nice theater 5.1 setup but I don't want to use that for everything and the sony sound is just fine.
Netflix and internet stuff is great, the remote is fine. This technology is getting so good we are really picking nits at this point. I just hope it is engineered to be reliable and long lasting because I intend on having this in my living room for the next 6-10 years.
I am sure you can spend a lot more and buy a better TV with better picture quality but for this price... killer TV.
The only downside is the TV is so damn thin and light that I feel nervous holding the bezel when I have to put in the inputs. It is solidly built but it just looks so fragile.
Furthermore, the sound is acceptable for normal viewing and much better than I expected due to all the people dissing it. I have a nice theater 5.1 setup but I don't want to use that for everything and the sony sound is just fine.
Netflix and internet stuff is great, the remote is fine. This technology is getting so good we are really picking nits at this point. I just hope it is engineered to be reliable and long lasting because I intend on having this in my living room for the next 6-10 years.
I am sure you can spend a lot more and buy a better TV with better picture quality but for this price... killer TV.
The only downside is the TV is so damn thin and light that I feel nervous holding the bezel when I have to put in the inputs. It is solidly built but it just looks so fragile.
Sony BRAVIA EX 400 Series 46-Inch LCD TV, Black Sony
Sony BRAVIA EX 400 Series 46-Inch LCD TV, Black (Electronics)
So I read the other reviews trying to find out if I should buy this tv or not and I didnt really get the information I needed from them to make an educated decision; I was very concerned with it being 60hz rather than 120hz, I read a lot of reviews talking about "blurring" "ghosting" and such for 60hz. I then did my research on my blu ray player(my Playstation 3). Turns out the Playstation 3 only does 60hz or 30hz, and on most games only does 720p. So with no intent on up-grading blu ray players this tv was an excellent choice, I have no regrets at all. Just watched Avatar on blu ray, looked awesome!!! no "blurring" or anything like the 120hz and up snobby crowd would have you believing with their tales of imaginary blurring and ghosting. Works great with hdtv and my 1080p laptop. I tweaked the picture settings to my likings, I suggest you do this too to get the most out of it, a helpful hint, the best colors to do this is with red, black and white, if you get those 3 colors looking good the rest fall into place.
Buy Sony BRAVIA BX 300 Series 32-Inch LCD TV
Sony BRAVIA BX 300 Series 32-Inch LCD TV, Black (Electronics)
I tested this TV at an in-store display to determine if it suffers a similar ghosting problem I have with another Sony TV - KDL-26L5000. Sadly it does. I tested with a few pre-recorded scenes known to illustrate the problem on the KDL-26L5000.
The odd ghosting problem is not the typical motion blur noticeable on fast moving objects. This ghosting manifests as a streaking or shadow movement. Most often it seems to affect facial features such as lips and around the eyes which seem to float off people's faces as they move from side to side. The effect is dependent on the scene being viewed - lighting, motion etc - typically occurring in dark scenes or scenes with areas of highly contrasting light and dark areas.
Happily the KDL-32EX400 does not suffer from this problem. If you consider yourself a critical TV viewer, consider spending a little more to avoid this sort of annoying problem. For casual viewing this is probably not an issue.
The odd ghosting problem is not the typical motion blur noticeable on fast moving objects. This ghosting manifests as a streaking or shadow movement. Most often it seems to affect facial features such as lips and around the eyes which seem to float off people's faces as they move from side to side. The effect is dependent on the scene being viewed - lighting, motion etc - typically occurring in dark scenes or scenes with areas of highly contrasting light and dark areas.
Happily the KDL-32EX400 does not suffer from this problem. If you consider yourself a critical TV viewer, consider spending a little more to avoid this sort of annoying problem. For casual viewing this is probably not an issue.
Buy VIZIO SV470M 47-inch 1080p LCD HDTV with 120 Hz Smooth Motion
I added a video showing the VIZIO SV470M TV playing back some video games (PS3/PC) and Blu-Ray movies. Obviously, it's not going to look exactly like you would see it in real life on a recorded video camera - and on top of that, a uploaded compressed internet video/low resolution; however, you should get a better idea of the smoothness and the size.
To be honest, when the brand name "Vizio" came to my mind before, I had a feeling it was more of a value brand than quality; however, I have a totally different view of them now after this TV. I'm impressed and more than satisfied with this TV compared to my Toshiba 40RV525R 40-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
47" is quite a nice size. What a difference just 7" makes. Movies and games feel way more thrilling than it ever did with the Toshiba 40" HDTV. It's a really good size for feeling like you're at the movies, but just at home.
Besides the size being an obvious upgrade, the 120Hz and "Smooth Technology" is really the other main selling point here. If you ever wanted that real feeling like you're looking through a window, then you'll want a fast motion 120Hz TV because the movement will really look faster and seem more life-like. This is really great for sports and reality TV because it really feels like you're actually there more. It really does make a difference.
However, this can be a bad thing for watching most film movies (shot at 24FPS) because it will literally make you feel like a movie shot on a film looking like it was originally shot on digital video instead! Some films just end up feeling really cheap at those speeds and is really distracting to watch (especially those shaky camera films because you'll notice the camera being more berserk than before and end up giving you more seizures; the subtle camera movements will be even more noticeable). Moreover, sometimes, when set to the max smoothness, it feels like the movie is being fast-forwarded but with the audio still magically syncing up...
Thankfully, the "Smooth Technology" can be disabled to still have that film feel (although it's still pretty smooth)! I've actually become a fan of this feature (even for someone like me who doesn't really like the modern digital look and prefers 24FPS film look) because it can actually give a whole new experience on watching films; it really gives a strange raw feeling like you're there at the scene watching it. You can enjoy movies in two different ways! It's really nice watching animation films with this feature on.
I find myself constantly turning this feature on and off depending on the content. I really wish there was easier access or button on the remote to quickly change this! It actually gets very cumbersome pressing "Menu", then "Picture", then scrolling to "Advanced Video", and then scrolling again to "Smooth Mode Effect" just to turn this feature on/off.
Speaking of the menu, it is really small and only takes up a small section of the screen. I also find it strange in order to change the aspect ratio, it's under the "Setup" option instead of the "Picture" setting. What's worse is there is no button on the remote to quickly change aspect ratios either! The remote is VERY basic. It's as basic as it can get.
Watching Planet Earth on Blu-Ray is much more enjoyable and thrilling with the 120Hz Smooth Technology because it really feels like I'm looking through a window now.
I also played PC and PS3 games on this and it looks fantastic. I played NBA 2K11, and with this TV, it really felt like I was at a real game! It is smooth 5ms and the experience is just so much more fun and amazing than it was on my Toshiba. It is such a blast to play it on this TV.
The audio on this TV actually impressed me too. You can't expect much from built-in speakers, especially in the bass department, but there's really good surround sound/depth feel to it (again, playing NBA 2K11 sounded like I was at the game!) It is without a doubt, the speakers on this is better than the one is on the Toshiba.
Most people should be very satisfied with the video quality. Despite this being 7" larger than my Toshiba, I find it to be sharper; it doesn't look that bad up-close like it did with the Toshiba. The further away you are, the better it will look.
I have seen deeper colors from other TVs and I also feel the blacks were better on the Toshiba, being really picky, but overall, I'm still happy with the way it looks.
This TV definitely doesn't deserve anything below a 4 stars (unless you get a defected/broken unit). I give it a 4 or 4.5/5. Even though I'm a harsh rater and also very picky, at this price range, most people should be more than satisfied. I really do like this TV.
I have a more positive feeling towards the Vizio name brand now.
Recommended.
Pros:
+ 47" is a great size/quality for feeling the impact of a home theater
+ Nice sexy black design
+ 120Hz "Smooth Technology" gives it a more life-like feel like you're looking through a window instead of a TV screen (it can also be turned off)
+ Great speakers (bass is never that impressive with built-in speakers, but the surround sound range is nice on these)
+ Great 178 degree viewing angle - even watching it from the side.
+ Power cable is detachable from TV (not pre-wired)
+ Easy to set-up; the base is already mounted
+ Handles on the back for easier lifting
+ Good value
To be honest, when the brand name "Vizio" came to my mind before, I had a feeling it was more of a value brand than quality; however, I have a totally different view of them now after this TV. I'm impressed and more than satisfied with this TV compared to my Toshiba 40RV525R 40-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
47" is quite a nice size. What a difference just 7" makes. Movies and games feel way more thrilling than it ever did with the Toshiba 40" HDTV. It's a really good size for feeling like you're at the movies, but just at home.
Besides the size being an obvious upgrade, the 120Hz and "Smooth Technology" is really the other main selling point here. If you ever wanted that real feeling like you're looking through a window, then you'll want a fast motion 120Hz TV because the movement will really look faster and seem more life-like. This is really great for sports and reality TV because it really feels like you're actually there more. It really does make a difference.
However, this can be a bad thing for watching most film movies (shot at 24FPS) because it will literally make you feel like a movie shot on a film looking like it was originally shot on digital video instead! Some films just end up feeling really cheap at those speeds and is really distracting to watch (especially those shaky camera films because you'll notice the camera being more berserk than before and end up giving you more seizures; the subtle camera movements will be even more noticeable). Moreover, sometimes, when set to the max smoothness, it feels like the movie is being fast-forwarded but with the audio still magically syncing up...
Thankfully, the "Smooth Technology" can be disabled to still have that film feel (although it's still pretty smooth)! I've actually become a fan of this feature (even for someone like me who doesn't really like the modern digital look and prefers 24FPS film look) because it can actually give a whole new experience on watching films; it really gives a strange raw feeling like you're there at the scene watching it. You can enjoy movies in two different ways! It's really nice watching animation films with this feature on.
I find myself constantly turning this feature on and off depending on the content. I really wish there was easier access or button on the remote to quickly change this! It actually gets very cumbersome pressing "Menu", then "Picture", then scrolling to "Advanced Video", and then scrolling again to "Smooth Mode Effect" just to turn this feature on/off.
Speaking of the menu, it is really small and only takes up a small section of the screen. I also find it strange in order to change the aspect ratio, it's under the "Setup" option instead of the "Picture" setting. What's worse is there is no button on the remote to quickly change aspect ratios either! The remote is VERY basic. It's as basic as it can get.
Watching Planet Earth on Blu-Ray is much more enjoyable and thrilling with the 120Hz Smooth Technology because it really feels like I'm looking through a window now.
I also played PC and PS3 games on this and it looks fantastic. I played NBA 2K11, and with this TV, it really felt like I was at a real game! It is smooth 5ms and the experience is just so much more fun and amazing than it was on my Toshiba. It is such a blast to play it on this TV.
The audio on this TV actually impressed me too. You can't expect much from built-in speakers, especially in the bass department, but there's really good surround sound/depth feel to it (again, playing NBA 2K11 sounded like I was at the game!) It is without a doubt, the speakers on this is better than the one is on the Toshiba.
Most people should be very satisfied with the video quality. Despite this being 7" larger than my Toshiba, I find it to be sharper; it doesn't look that bad up-close like it did with the Toshiba. The further away you are, the better it will look.
I have seen deeper colors from other TVs and I also feel the blacks were better on the Toshiba, being really picky, but overall, I'm still happy with the way it looks.
This TV definitely doesn't deserve anything below a 4 stars (unless you get a defected/broken unit). I give it a 4 or 4.5/5. Even though I'm a harsh rater and also very picky, at this price range, most people should be more than satisfied. I really do like this TV.
I have a more positive feeling towards the Vizio name brand now.
Recommended.
Pros:
+ 47" is a great size/quality for feeling the impact of a home theater
+ Nice sexy black design
+ 120Hz "Smooth Technology" gives it a more life-like feel like you're looking through a window instead of a TV screen (it can also be turned off)
+ Great speakers (bass is never that impressive with built-in speakers, but the surround sound range is nice on these)
+ Great 178 degree viewing angle - even watching it from the side.
+ Power cable is detachable from TV (not pre-wired)
+ Easy to set-up; the base is already mounted
+ Handles on the back for easier lifting
+ Good value
buy Proscan 32LB45Q 32-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Proscan 40LD45Q 40-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV, Black (Electronics)
This TV is quite impressive, especially for the money. There are plenty of inputs, many of which are conveniently located on the side of the panel. As far as the picture goes, the color is fantastic, and the contrast is pretty good as well. Where this TV falls short is the uneven back-lighting. In a low light setting watching a dark scene, you can see portions of the screen are brighter than others, which can be annoying at best and distracting at worst. Aside from that, I have no complaints with the television. Were money no object, I'm sure the Proscan would rate lower, however the value you get out of this TV for the price is hard to match. It is a very fine budget LCD HDTV.
BUY Sony BRAVIA KDL46NX810 46-Inch, sony 3DBNDL
Sony BRAVIA KDL46NX810 46-Inch 1080p 240 Hz 3D-Ready LED HDTV, Black (Electronics)
I have had my Sony KDL46NX810 for about a month. I have the 3D accessories, a Sony PlayStation 3 and a computer hooked to the TV. Most of the content I watch is on the internet over the computer, streaming Netflix, and Amazon Video on Demand. The 3D effect is a novelty. Once the new wears off I will put the 3D glasses in a draw and forget about them. I wish I purchased a less expensive TV that does not have 3D. Other than my disappointment with 3D, I am quite happy with the TV.
CONNECTIONS: My computer and PlayStation are both connected to the TV with 12' long inexpensive HDMI cables purchased from Harbor Freight (seller of cheap tools). The 3D starter pack I purchased came with a "High-speed HDMI cable..... (for the) transfer of both 3D video and audio signals". So far the inexpensive HDMI cable seems to work fine even with 3D content. The TV is also connected to the internet with a cat 5 cable. It has WiFi but I didn't need it (or try it). I have high speed internet access through the local cable provider. I have experienced no trouble streaming content.
ANTENNA: I get the same number of channels over the air as I did when I had a 7 year old generic HD TV. There is an onscreen program guide. During setup the TV asked if I wanted the programming guide from the internet or from over-the-air. I chose the internet option. On the TV guide channel I can see what will be on hours from now.
LOOK: The TV looks great. The Sony emblem lights up when you turn on the TV. You can turn that feature off if you want. I have the TV mounted on the wall. The monolithic design was great. I say was because the IR emitter that is required for 3D makes the TV not so monolithic any more. The emitter is the bunny-ears of the 3D television age. It should have been built in to the TV. It's not that bad but it does not add to the look and Sony is selling the "Monolithic Design".
ACCESSORIES : The remote control seems rather long and has many buttons. When I first got the TV I tried to learn the remote and how to get from thing to thing. After a day or two I navigated the options of the TV through the Home Menu. The Home Menu is easy to navigate and is very similar to the PS3 menu organization. Everything is easy to find and the TV is easy to navigate. The stations that I get over the aerial all have their own icon in the menu. There is also a description of what is on now. Everything the TV can do is available through the graphical menu.
The remote control also will navigate the PS3 menus and control video play back on the PS3. Play, Stop, Fast Forward, and Next all work as expected from the TV remote controlling the PS3. The cross button in the center of the remote is the same as the x button on the PS3 controller. The back button will move you back towards the main menu. I am very happy with the way the TV remote controls the PS3. I tried to use the TV remote as a controller for a game but there is no Start button so I could not start the game. There would be no advantage to the remote as a controller for PS3 games but I thought I would try anyway. I can't turn the PS3 on with the TV remote. I have the impression that the TV remote can turn on the PS3 but I have not figured that out yet.
DIGITAL VIDEO CONTENT: To make many of these features work it is helpful to have both a separate computer and the TV connected to the internet. When I first tried to register the TV, I was using the TV as the monitor to the computer. I could not register the computer until I was using a computer that did not need the TV as a monitor. Other then needing both the TV and the computer at the same time, the registering process was easy. There were a lot of steps. You register the TV with Sony then Netflix then Amazon Video on Demand, then what ever else.
Accessible through the TV are Qriocity video on demand, Amazon, Hulu +, Netfix, YouTube, Crackle, an RSS feed (Not a fully functional RSS feed) and a bunch of other stuff. Let's start with the bunch of other stuff. It is mostly internet shorts. I have a friend with a Roku and it is similar to the things that he watches on his Roku. Roku has much more content of the internet short variety. Someone will like some of these channels, I don't bother with them.
There is a RSS feed but you can't add anything to it or delete anything from it. It's an RSS feed that you don't have any control over. That said, it has episodes of Meet The Press an, the Nightly News and other things. I have not used it but on occasion I do like to watch Meet The Press. It's nice to know it's there.
Crackle is full of things that Sony owns. That you can watch at any time. There are 4 episodes of each of the following TV shows on Crackle ; Barney miller, Dilbert News radio, I dream of Jeannie, 10 items or less, the Jackie Chan Adventures, Vip and Bewitched in their TV episodes folder. There are also 8 movies. I have not watched any of this content. I don't know if this content changes over time. The list of shows available was from November 2010.
YouTube is surprisingly easy to use on the TV. If you want to search for anything you have to use an onscreen keyboard. That's laborious so I never do it. It does connect to my YouTube account. I can bring up my favorites or subscriptions very easily. I don't use this much because I have a computer connected to the TV but it's easy to use.
You need a Netflix account to use Netflix. I have not had any problems with streaming content through Netflix. I use this feature often. At the moment, you can only watch the content that is in your instant cue. Netflix on the PS3 has a much better interface. I imagine that there will be a software update that allows you to do more than just watch what is in your cue. That said it's easy enough to put things in your Netflix cue if you have a computer nearby.
I don't use Hulu+ because I have a computer connected to the TV. Regular Hulu through the computer and displayed on the TV works fine.
I have been very happy with Amazon Video on Demand. You can rent or purchases new and old movies and TV shows through this service and stream them to the TV. You can typically choose between HD and standard definition. I have used this service for years. I don't use cable so if there is a show I want to see that is not available on the internet I have to wait for it to come out on Netflix or purchase it episode by episode on Amazon.
I don't use Qriocity but it seems like a competitor to Amazon Video on demand. I haven't used this service. I looked at their pricing and it was the same as Amazon for everything I looked at.
DIGITAL AUDIO CONTENT: The TV has Slacker, Pandora, Berliner Philharmoniker, and NPR. The menu also has a Lollapalooza station but it is just a standard Slacker radio station. Slacker and Pandora are services that stream music. They have many built in stations. One can make a customized station simply by typing a name of a band or song and the service will build a radio station around that song or band. Slacker works well on the TV. You can turn the screen off while Slacker is playing or display album art. I have used Slacker for years. I was very pleased that it was on the TV at first but I don't use it because I have other speakers when I play it on my computer that are much better. I don't use Pandora but I imagine it works in roughly the same way on the TV.
The only thing I know about Berliner Philharmoniker is that you have to pay for the service. I don't even know exactly what the service is even though I tried to figure it out by registering on their website. Slacker has classical music and so does Pandora.
NPR on the TV was a big letdown. You have access to podcasts and program s on NPR through the TV. The interface was much easier to navigate and find things then the NPR website. I like to listen to the Planet Money Podcast and they have it. The disappointment came when I realized that all the content that I looked at was a couple months old. Perhaps at some point it will be updated regularly but as of Nov 2010 it is not.
AUDIO: The TV doses not sound great. My understanding is that there is not enough room for base speakers in flat screen TVs. The computer sounds particularly bad when played through the TV. The computer sounds fine with different speakers. I think there might be some equalizer settings that could make the computer sound better. The TV needs a base speaker. Sony does not sell a separate base speaker for this TV. It doses sell a stand with built in speakers and a couple of sound bars with sub-woofers. It needs something.
3D: You must buy a 3D sink transmitter and 3D glasses to make this TV into a 3D TV. There is no good place to put the 3D sink transmitter. It is the bunny-ears of 3D televisions. I purchased the Alice in Wonderland 3D starter kit. The sink transmitter has a cord that is a meter long or more and plugs into the back of the TV. I have never seen the kind of connector that is used for the sink transmitter any were else. If you wanted an extension for the 3D transmitter I suspect you would have a hard time finding one. That said it must be located near the TV. The instructions say either at the top or bottom of the TV.
My TV came with a "gift" for registering. This is separate from the registering the TV so it would function with the digital content. For filling out a second product registry form on the internet they are sending me through the mail the "Bolt" in 3D and "This is it" with 10 minutes of 3D content. I have not received these movies yet.
It also comes with a voucher code for four 3D PS3 games including Motor Storm (demo), Pain with 3D pack (Portion of the game), Super Stardust HD in 3D (full game) and Wipeout HD in 3d (full game).
I purchased the TV because the idea of 3D games was very appealing to me. I thought that if you had a plantation move controller and a 3D TV you would interact with the 3D image. It never occurred to me that a 3D image would only be another way to display the 2D image that is already there. My expectations were too high thus I was disappointed. To be fair I have not yet played all the games available in 3D.
3D looks fine. Super Stardust HD in 3D is pretty cool. The game is 3D inside the TV but when you are killed your ship explodes out of the TV. It's a nice effect. Motor Storm and Grand Turismo 5 display in 3D but I experience no added benefit to displaying the games in 3D.
I can't play video games for long periods of time because of eye strain. My eyes start hurting two or three times as fast when playing games in 3D. Watching 3D movies does not seem to cause as much eye strain (at least for me).
Because there is no interaction with the 3D image and there is only marginal benefit (if any) to displaying a game in 3D, the 3D effect is only a novelty. Once the new wears off, I will put away the 3D glasses, hide the 3D sink behind the TV and only bring it out on occasion if someone wants to see it.
****I wish I purchased a less expensive TV with the same features less the 3D.****
AS A COMPUTER MONITOR: I use the TV as a computer monitor. My understanding is that plasma TV's can have image burn in so if you're going to use the TV as a monitor you are better off getting an LCD. It is connected to my computer through a HDMI cable but there is a place for a standard monitor cable to connect. The HDMI is nice because it has both sound and video. The specs for the TV said that the HDMI was computer compatible. A computer with an HDMI out will display on any TV with an HDMI in. This TV communicated with my computer and told the computer what the optimal settings are for the TV. At least that is my understanding of what it did. The computer knows the model number of the TV and has some settings marked as optimal.
If you sit too close to the TV you will noticed that there is an array of tiny black marks. Those black marks are similar to what one would find on an old high end projector screen. Old projector screens have the black marks to enhance contrast. You would never notice them if you were sitting on the couch or watching a TV. It's not a problem but it's noticeable if I am sitting too close to the TV. If I look closely at my computer monitor at work, I see a grid of black lines instead of an array of black marks. You will never notice them unless you look for them.
TV WIDGETS: This feature has great potential but as it currently exists, it's nearly useless. TV widgets are very similar to desktop widgets that became available with windows vista. They will display the weather, stock quotes or other simple information. They are nearly useless because they are too slow. Setting up the weather takes forever because the setup is just as slow. Once you have the weather widget setup and you want to see what the weather is, you can hit the widget button on the wait 30 seconds, and then select the weather widget. Once the weather widget is selected you must wait another 30 seconds and the most basic information about the current weather will be displayed. It is just too slow for the content that is provided. It would seem more appropriate if it displayed at least a radar map after waiting 60 seconds. Perhaps I need to look up "Everything is amazing and no one is happy" on YouTube again.
CONNECTIONS: My computer and PlayStation are both connected to the TV with 12' long inexpensive HDMI cables purchased from Harbor Freight (seller of cheap tools). The 3D starter pack I purchased came with a "High-speed HDMI cable..... (for the) transfer of both 3D video and audio signals". So far the inexpensive HDMI cable seems to work fine even with 3D content. The TV is also connected to the internet with a cat 5 cable. It has WiFi but I didn't need it (or try it). I have high speed internet access through the local cable provider. I have experienced no trouble streaming content.
ANTENNA: I get the same number of channels over the air as I did when I had a 7 year old generic HD TV. There is an onscreen program guide. During setup the TV asked if I wanted the programming guide from the internet or from over-the-air. I chose the internet option. On the TV guide channel I can see what will be on hours from now.
LOOK: The TV looks great. The Sony emblem lights up when you turn on the TV. You can turn that feature off if you want. I have the TV mounted on the wall. The monolithic design was great. I say was because the IR emitter that is required for 3D makes the TV not so monolithic any more. The emitter is the bunny-ears of the 3D television age. It should have been built in to the TV. It's not that bad but it does not add to the look and Sony is selling the "Monolithic Design".
ACCESSORIES : The remote control seems rather long and has many buttons. When I first got the TV I tried to learn the remote and how to get from thing to thing. After a day or two I navigated the options of the TV through the Home Menu. The Home Menu is easy to navigate and is very similar to the PS3 menu organization. Everything is easy to find and the TV is easy to navigate. The stations that I get over the aerial all have their own icon in the menu. There is also a description of what is on now. Everything the TV can do is available through the graphical menu.
The remote control also will navigate the PS3 menus and control video play back on the PS3. Play, Stop, Fast Forward, and Next all work as expected from the TV remote controlling the PS3. The cross button in the center of the remote is the same as the x button on the PS3 controller. The back button will move you back towards the main menu. I am very happy with the way the TV remote controls the PS3. I tried to use the TV remote as a controller for a game but there is no Start button so I could not start the game. There would be no advantage to the remote as a controller for PS3 games but I thought I would try anyway. I can't turn the PS3 on with the TV remote. I have the impression that the TV remote can turn on the PS3 but I have not figured that out yet.
DIGITAL VIDEO CONTENT: To make many of these features work it is helpful to have both a separate computer and the TV connected to the internet. When I first tried to register the TV, I was using the TV as the monitor to the computer. I could not register the computer until I was using a computer that did not need the TV as a monitor. Other then needing both the TV and the computer at the same time, the registering process was easy. There were a lot of steps. You register the TV with Sony then Netflix then Amazon Video on Demand, then what ever else.
Accessible through the TV are Qriocity video on demand, Amazon, Hulu +, Netfix, YouTube, Crackle, an RSS feed (Not a fully functional RSS feed) and a bunch of other stuff. Let's start with the bunch of other stuff. It is mostly internet shorts. I have a friend with a Roku and it is similar to the things that he watches on his Roku. Roku has much more content of the internet short variety. Someone will like some of these channels, I don't bother with them.
There is a RSS feed but you can't add anything to it or delete anything from it. It's an RSS feed that you don't have any control over. That said, it has episodes of Meet The Press an, the Nightly News and other things. I have not used it but on occasion I do like to watch Meet The Press. It's nice to know it's there.
Crackle is full of things that Sony owns. That you can watch at any time. There are 4 episodes of each of the following TV shows on Crackle ; Barney miller, Dilbert News radio, I dream of Jeannie, 10 items or less, the Jackie Chan Adventures, Vip and Bewitched in their TV episodes folder. There are also 8 movies. I have not watched any of this content. I don't know if this content changes over time. The list of shows available was from November 2010.
YouTube is surprisingly easy to use on the TV. If you want to search for anything you have to use an onscreen keyboard. That's laborious so I never do it. It does connect to my YouTube account. I can bring up my favorites or subscriptions very easily. I don't use this much because I have a computer connected to the TV but it's easy to use.
You need a Netflix account to use Netflix. I have not had any problems with streaming content through Netflix. I use this feature often. At the moment, you can only watch the content that is in your instant cue. Netflix on the PS3 has a much better interface. I imagine that there will be a software update that allows you to do more than just watch what is in your cue. That said it's easy enough to put things in your Netflix cue if you have a computer nearby.
I don't use Hulu+ because I have a computer connected to the TV. Regular Hulu through the computer and displayed on the TV works fine.
I have been very happy with Amazon Video on Demand. You can rent or purchases new and old movies and TV shows through this service and stream them to the TV. You can typically choose between HD and standard definition. I have used this service for years. I don't use cable so if there is a show I want to see that is not available on the internet I have to wait for it to come out on Netflix or purchase it episode by episode on Amazon.
I don't use Qriocity but it seems like a competitor to Amazon Video on demand. I haven't used this service. I looked at their pricing and it was the same as Amazon for everything I looked at.
DIGITAL AUDIO CONTENT: The TV has Slacker, Pandora, Berliner Philharmoniker, and NPR. The menu also has a Lollapalooza station but it is just a standard Slacker radio station. Slacker and Pandora are services that stream music. They have many built in stations. One can make a customized station simply by typing a name of a band or song and the service will build a radio station around that song or band. Slacker works well on the TV. You can turn the screen off while Slacker is playing or display album art. I have used Slacker for years. I was very pleased that it was on the TV at first but I don't use it because I have other speakers when I play it on my computer that are much better. I don't use Pandora but I imagine it works in roughly the same way on the TV.
The only thing I know about Berliner Philharmoniker is that you have to pay for the service. I don't even know exactly what the service is even though I tried to figure it out by registering on their website. Slacker has classical music and so does Pandora.
NPR on the TV was a big letdown. You have access to podcasts and program s on NPR through the TV. The interface was much easier to navigate and find things then the NPR website. I like to listen to the Planet Money Podcast and they have it. The disappointment came when I realized that all the content that I looked at was a couple months old. Perhaps at some point it will be updated regularly but as of Nov 2010 it is not.
AUDIO: The TV doses not sound great. My understanding is that there is not enough room for base speakers in flat screen TVs. The computer sounds particularly bad when played through the TV. The computer sounds fine with different speakers. I think there might be some equalizer settings that could make the computer sound better. The TV needs a base speaker. Sony does not sell a separate base speaker for this TV. It doses sell a stand with built in speakers and a couple of sound bars with sub-woofers. It needs something.
3D: You must buy a 3D sink transmitter and 3D glasses to make this TV into a 3D TV. There is no good place to put the 3D sink transmitter. It is the bunny-ears of 3D televisions. I purchased the Alice in Wonderland 3D starter kit. The sink transmitter has a cord that is a meter long or more and plugs into the back of the TV. I have never seen the kind of connector that is used for the sink transmitter any were else. If you wanted an extension for the 3D transmitter I suspect you would have a hard time finding one. That said it must be located near the TV. The instructions say either at the top or bottom of the TV.
My TV came with a "gift" for registering. This is separate from the registering the TV so it would function with the digital content. For filling out a second product registry form on the internet they are sending me through the mail the "Bolt" in 3D and "This is it" with 10 minutes of 3D content. I have not received these movies yet.
It also comes with a voucher code for four 3D PS3 games including Motor Storm (demo), Pain with 3D pack (Portion of the game), Super Stardust HD in 3D (full game) and Wipeout HD in 3d (full game).
I purchased the TV because the idea of 3D games was very appealing to me. I thought that if you had a plantation move controller and a 3D TV you would interact with the 3D image. It never occurred to me that a 3D image would only be another way to display the 2D image that is already there. My expectations were too high thus I was disappointed. To be fair I have not yet played all the games available in 3D.
3D looks fine. Super Stardust HD in 3D is pretty cool. The game is 3D inside the TV but when you are killed your ship explodes out of the TV. It's a nice effect. Motor Storm and Grand Turismo 5 display in 3D but I experience no added benefit to displaying the games in 3D.
I can't play video games for long periods of time because of eye strain. My eyes start hurting two or three times as fast when playing games in 3D. Watching 3D movies does not seem to cause as much eye strain (at least for me).
Because there is no interaction with the 3D image and there is only marginal benefit (if any) to displaying a game in 3D, the 3D effect is only a novelty. Once the new wears off, I will put away the 3D glasses, hide the 3D sink behind the TV and only bring it out on occasion if someone wants to see it.
****I wish I purchased a less expensive TV with the same features less the 3D.****
AS A COMPUTER MONITOR: I use the TV as a computer monitor. My understanding is that plasma TV's can have image burn in so if you're going to use the TV as a monitor you are better off getting an LCD. It is connected to my computer through a HDMI cable but there is a place for a standard monitor cable to connect. The HDMI is nice because it has both sound and video. The specs for the TV said that the HDMI was computer compatible. A computer with an HDMI out will display on any TV with an HDMI in. This TV communicated with my computer and told the computer what the optimal settings are for the TV. At least that is my understanding of what it did. The computer knows the model number of the TV and has some settings marked as optimal.
If you sit too close to the TV you will noticed that there is an array of tiny black marks. Those black marks are similar to what one would find on an old high end projector screen. Old projector screens have the black marks to enhance contrast. You would never notice them if you were sitting on the couch or watching a TV. It's not a problem but it's noticeable if I am sitting too close to the TV. If I look closely at my computer monitor at work, I see a grid of black lines instead of an array of black marks. You will never notice them unless you look for them.
TV WIDGETS: This feature has great potential but as it currently exists, it's nearly useless. TV widgets are very similar to desktop widgets that became available with windows vista. They will display the weather, stock quotes or other simple information. They are nearly useless because they are too slow. Setting up the weather takes forever because the setup is just as slow. Once you have the weather widget setup and you want to see what the weather is, you can hit the widget button on the wait 30 seconds, and then select the weather widget. Once the weather widget is selected you must wait another 30 seconds and the most basic information about the current weather will be displayed. It is just too slow for the content that is provided. It would seem more appropriate if it displayed at least a radar map after waiting 60 seconds. Perhaps I need to look up "Everything is amazing and no one is happy" on YouTube again.
Buy Speaker System with Subwoofer
Logitech S220 2.1 Speaker System with Subwoofer (Electronics)
I recently got a inexpensive 19" HDTV which has decent enough video quality but it burdened with the WORST sound I've heard on a TV. Tinny sounding speakers with little volume. But there was a headphone jack on the TV. With headphones, the TV sounded excellent. My computer speakers were connected with a headphone jack... They worked just fine on the TV. I looked for powered 2.1 computer speaker systems on Amazon and was delighted to find many choices under $40. The best value for the money seemed to be this Logitech and the cheap TV now has excellent sound.
I give this a 5 star rating (instead of a 3 or a 4) because of the low price. There are better 2.1 systems but nowhere near this price.
I give this a 5 star rating (instead of a 3 or a 4) because of the low price. There are better 2.1 systems but nowhere near this price.
PHILIPS SPA 1312
BOSE VCS-10
TV EARS 1030 WERELESS SPEAKER
SONY SS B1000
RCA AH6100
buy Terk HDTVa Indoor Amplified High-Definition Antenna for Off-Air HDTV
Terk HDTVa Indoor Amplified High-Definition Antenna for Off-Air HDTV Reception (Electronics)
Having spent a bundle acquiring a Sony LCD HDTV and upgrading our Dish service to include its limited set of HDTV channels, we were anxious to see what an Over-the-Air Antenna might add.
In all, we tested 5, including the highly rated Zenith log periodic (about $40 at Sears), an amplified Samsung (about $99 at Best Buy), an outdoor Terk 32 (about $80 at Circuit City), our old roof mounted VHF/UHF antenna (circa 1985), and the amplified Terk HDTVa (about $50 at Radio Shack). The Terk HDTVa won hands down; no contest, blowing away the much touted Zenith.
We live in the sparsely populated, low hill countryside of Western Massachuetts. The THDTVa effortlessly brings in between 20 and 30 analogue and digital (incl hdtv) channels broadcast most from 12 to 45 miles away, and some as far as 65+ miles away in Connecticut. Some digital OTA channels actually come in more sharply than some of the (Dish) satellite digital channels.
This is definitely a keeper: a great value, gem of an antenna. So good, in fact, we are debating giving up our $50/month Dish service, putting $15 of that to Netflix to replace HBO, and banking the remaining $35.
In all, we tested 5, including the highly rated Zenith log periodic (about $40 at Sears), an amplified Samsung (about $99 at Best Buy), an outdoor Terk 32 (about $80 at Circuit City), our old roof mounted VHF/UHF antenna (circa 1985), and the amplified Terk HDTVa (about $50 at Radio Shack). The Terk HDTVa won hands down; no contest, blowing away the much touted Zenith.
We live in the sparsely populated, low hill countryside of Western Massachuetts. The THDTVa effortlessly brings in between 20 and 30 analogue and digital (incl hdtv) channels broadcast most from 12 to 45 miles away, and some as far as 65+ miles away in Connecticut. Some digital OTA channels actually come in more sharply than some of the (Dish) satellite digital channels.
This is definitely a keeper: a great value, gem of an antenna. So good, in fact, we are debating giving up our $50/month Dish service, putting $15 of that to Netflix to replace HBO, and banking the remaining $35.
RCA ANTI 1650 flat digital, antennas direct db2 multi direction HDTV, ANTENA DIRECT db4 & RCA
Cheetah Mounts APTMM2B Flat Screen TV Wall Mount Bracket
Cheetah Mounts APTMM2B Flat Screen TV Wall Mount Bracket, uses Universal Tilt Mount 32-55" - Plasma, LED, LCD TV Wall Mounts Mounting Brackets (Electronics) I was skeptical of this mount. Why should this be so cheap compared to other mounting kits? I ordered one (due to the price), and prepared to return it if I did not think the mount could handle the weight of the 52" LCD TV (Samsung).
Once I got it, I understood the cost. Good low-cost design and built with solid heavy duty steel.
- Two horizontal bars are load-bearing, and for proper VESA spacing, they have to be parallel and relative distance must be in the right tolerances. These are made of solid steel.
- Two vertical bars (in the wall mount) are flimsey, and that's ok. it should be solid enough make a rectangle box w/ square angles. That's it.
- Two vertical mounting (to the TV) brackets are of heavy duty metal. Making this in to two parts (not one), reduction of material, but also allows free horizontal adjustment on the TV mount.
- By doing the above, the kit is small, uses less metal (and reduce shipping and material waste).
Positives
---------
Once I got it, I understood the cost. Good low-cost design and built with solid heavy duty steel.
- Two horizontal bars are load-bearing, and for proper VESA spacing, they have to be parallel and relative distance must be in the right tolerances. These are made of solid steel.
- Two vertical bars (in the wall mount) are flimsey, and that's ok. it should be solid enough make a rectangle box w/ square angles. That's it.
- Two vertical mounting (to the TV) brackets are of heavy duty metal. Making this in to two parts (not one), reduction of material, but also allows free horizontal adjustment on the TV mount.
- By doing the above, the kit is small, uses less metal (and reduce shipping and material waste).
Positives
---------
- Good solid and heavy duty construction.
- Good value (low-cost). Paid less than $ 25 including shipping.
- Easy install. Took 15 min to figure out the instruction (which is not totally clear), and 10~15 min to install and ready to watch.
- built-in level worked well during marking of mouting holes on the wall --I tested w/ my own, and was consistent.
- Once the mounted on the wall, and bracket on TV, you could adjust horizontal TV placement on the mount, just by sliding few inches left or right, post install. I expect this to be safe and true if the wall mount is directly screwed into the wall studs. I do not expect dry-wall install without the use of the studs to handle such adjustment.
- The brackets on TV could also be used to adjust vertical TV placement by a few inches up and down. But for this one, you'll need to lift TV off the bracket and adjust and pull back :-).
- There is a reasonable space (I would say, just right) from the wall to the TV to get cables/connectors through WITHOUT using any expensive 90 degree connectors. Plenty of space between two horizontal bars to put extra power outlet and data HDMI cable outlet to hide all the cables.
- This supports tilt up/down, and works well. Amazon product description does not make it clear.
Negatives
---------
---------
- Just one. Clearer instruction so that I do not need to spend 15 min figuring things out. One could learn a lot form IKEA :-).
- Packing/Packaging -- Not necessarily Cheetah Mount issue -- mine came w/o missing parts, although I noticed torn cardboard box edges and some parts COULD have been lost during shipping. Either double box, or have Cheetah use heavier box stock.
Helpful Hints & Comments
-------------------------
-------------------------
- DO NOT forget to tighten the screws (2) on the bottom horizontal bars AFTER TV is placed on the wall mount -- especially if you are in CA w/ quake. This is what prevents TV falling off the mount accidentally. But do not over-tighten (you are NOT securing from left-to-right movement).
- Very happy w/ my purchase. Will get one more for my other TV.
buy Proscan 40LD45Q 40-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Proscan 40LD45Q 40-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV, Black (Electronics)
This TV is quite impressive, especially for the money. There are plenty of inputs, many of which are conveniently located on the side of the panel. As far as the picture goes, the color is fantastic, and the contrast is pretty good as well. Where this TV falls short is the uneven back-lighting. In a low light setting watching a dark scene, you can see portions of the screen are brighter than others, which can be annoying at best and distracting at worst. Aside from that, I have no complaints with the television. Were money no object, I'm sure the Proscan would rate lower, however the value you get out of this TV for the price is hard to match. It is a very fine budget LCD HDTV.
Buy Samsung LN32C350 32-InchHz LCD HDTV
Samsung LN32C350 32-Inch 720p 60 Hz LCD HDTV (Black) (Electronics)
Picture Quality Performance: With 480i images we noted some jerky motion artifacts in the background of some scenes. However, I did not see much offensive negatives in the foreground and was very pleased with the detail offered in 480i. The processors did a very nice job. Color rendition was not oversaturated, if not sometimes a little muted.
With our Blu Ray set to 720p resolution to match the TVs resolution we were very impressed at the bright sharp images and intense color offered. The TV really has a lot of pop with HD material. We also did not note the negative background judder with HD material and this proved out with our HD HQV processor testing as well. Black levels were deep and occasionally oversaturated but not often enough to really be a strike against. Dark shadow detail was totally acceptable for a TV of this size and price range.
Off center viewing was average on this LCD TV with the contrast and black levels fading at around 35 degrees off angle - again not bad for this price range.
Calibration: Calibration through the menu was easy and the C350 did a nice job calibrating to near D6500K. There are advanced white balance controls included on this TV which is unusual for this price point. There are also many more advanced settings than I would have thought such as Black Tone, Dynamic Contrast, a Gamma setting, and a nifty Flesh Tone setting that will take the onscreen flesh tones from a yellowish to a pinkish appearance at your whim without changing the overall color appearance of the picture much.
Picture settings as calibrated from the Custom Setting:
Backlight: 8
Contrast: 92
Brightness: 46
Sharpness: 10
Color: 53
Tint: Unchanged
Black Tone: Dark
Dynamic Contrast: Low
Gamma: +1
Color Space: Native
White Balance-
Rgain: 27
Roffset: 24
Flesh Tone: +1
Edge Enhancement: Off
As far as aesthetic considerations go, the LN32C350 has straightforward design and better than the other 32" models on the market except the LG's. You almost cant believe how light the TV is upon lifting it, a scant 15.7 pounds. The TV is 3.25" in depth and 8" with the stand. The included table stand is very light and inexpensive and the TV must be turned on its head and the table stand screwed on upside down to accomplish the assembly. It would be more convenient if Samsung would just include the stand already assembled on the TV, same as some other manufacturers. The table top stand does not swivel side to side. The 2" bezel framing of the TV is gloss black and non-spectacular but does contain a sloped design element at the bottom.
Audio Output: The two inbuilt 5 watt speakers barely get the job done. From 10 feet the user will need to keep the volume control at 75% of total capacity. The volume quality also is lacking with a tinny character and no base - but that's about all you can expect from 5 watt speakers.
With our Blu Ray set to 720p resolution to match the TVs resolution we were very impressed at the bright sharp images and intense color offered. The TV really has a lot of pop with HD material. We also did not note the negative background judder with HD material and this proved out with our HD HQV processor testing as well. Black levels were deep and occasionally oversaturated but not often enough to really be a strike against. Dark shadow detail was totally acceptable for a TV of this size and price range.
Off center viewing was average on this LCD TV with the contrast and black levels fading at around 35 degrees off angle - again not bad for this price range.
Calibration: Calibration through the menu was easy and the C350 did a nice job calibrating to near D6500K. There are advanced white balance controls included on this TV which is unusual for this price point. There are also many more advanced settings than I would have thought such as Black Tone, Dynamic Contrast, a Gamma setting, and a nifty Flesh Tone setting that will take the onscreen flesh tones from a yellowish to a pinkish appearance at your whim without changing the overall color appearance of the picture much.
Picture settings as calibrated from the Custom Setting:
Backlight: 8
Contrast: 92
Brightness: 46
Sharpness: 10
Color: 53
Tint: Unchanged
Black Tone: Dark
Dynamic Contrast: Low
Gamma: +1
Color Space: Native
White Balance-
Rgain: 27
Roffset: 24
Flesh Tone: +1
Edge Enhancement: Off
As far as aesthetic considerations go, the LN32C350 has straightforward design and better than the other 32" models on the market except the LG's. You almost cant believe how light the TV is upon lifting it, a scant 15.7 pounds. The TV is 3.25" in depth and 8" with the stand. The included table stand is very light and inexpensive and the TV must be turned on its head and the table stand screwed on upside down to accomplish the assembly. It would be more convenient if Samsung would just include the stand already assembled on the TV, same as some other manufacturers. The table top stand does not swivel side to side. The 2" bezel framing of the TV is gloss black and non-spectacular but does contain a sloped design element at the bottom.
Audio Output: The two inbuilt 5 watt speakers barely get the job done. From 10 feet the user will need to keep the volume control at 75% of total capacity. The volume quality also is lacking with a tinny character and no base - but that's about all you can expect from 5 watt speakers.
buy VIZIO SV421XVT 42-Inch XVT-Series 1080p 240 Hz SPS LCD HDTV
VIZIO SV421XVT 42-Inch XVT-Series 1080p 240 Hz SPS LCD HDTV (Electronics)
The Vizio SV421XVT, is a very nice 42 inch lcd TV. With 120hz refresh rate, and 240hz scenes per second, this television offers depth perception found only in high end LED TVs.
The picture quality and black levels are very nice. The smooth motion is very visible and beautiful. Although we had to return 2 televsions to Vizio because they came with Stuck Bright Pixels, we are still very pleased with the TV over all.
I would not recommend buying a Vizio from Vizio directly. The swap out of the units we had with Stuck Pixels with Vizio was a long painful process, but that does not take away from the picture quality of this unit. I would suggest going the route of Amazon or Wally World when purchasing, no questions asked returns.
I updated this review and have shortened it greatly to focus back on the quality and performance of this unit.
Amazons customer service is great, but PILOT delivery is bogus, it is not white glove and they are liars.
That being said, I would recommend the SV421XVT to anyone wanting a good quality LCD at a reasonable price.
It does not come with the bluetooth remote, no apps, no wifi, no 3d, and it does not hold a mega contrast ratio in the millions, this is a late 2009 model LCD, but at the current Amazon asking price, it would be perfect for the standard families everyday use.
The picture quality and black levels are very nice. The smooth motion is very visible and beautiful. Although we had to return 2 televsions to Vizio because they came with Stuck Bright Pixels, we are still very pleased with the TV over all.
I would not recommend buying a Vizio from Vizio directly. The swap out of the units we had with Stuck Pixels with Vizio was a long painful process, but that does not take away from the picture quality of this unit. I would suggest going the route of Amazon or Wally World when purchasing, no questions asked returns.
I updated this review and have shortened it greatly to focus back on the quality and performance of this unit.
Amazons customer service is great, but PILOT delivery is bogus, it is not white glove and they are liars.
That being said, I would recommend the SV421XVT to anyone wanting a good quality LCD at a reasonable price.
It does not come with the bluetooth remote, no apps, no wifi, no 3d, and it does not hold a mega contrast ratio in the millions, this is a late 2009 model LCD, but at the current Amazon asking price, it would be perfect for the standard families everyday use.
buy Toshiba 22CV100U 22-Inch 720p LCD/DVD Combo TV
Toshiba 22CV100U 22-Inch 720p LCD/DVD Combo TV (Black Gloss) (Electronics)
We have an older version of this TV in our kitchen which we were very happy with, and I wanted to replace an old television in my bedroom, so I looked first at Toshibas. The video quality is very good, and the sound issues that some people had with older models seem to have been resolved. The DVD player works great so far. My only (minor) complaints are that the screen can get a good amount of glare depending on how it is angled, and it also seems to attract a lot of dust, I feel like I am constantly cleaning it! I feel like this is a very good value for the money. I looked at similar TV/DVD combos and none had the picture quality or styling that this Toshiba has.
buy Toshiba 32C100U 32-Inch LCDHDTV
Toshiba 32C100U 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV (Black Gloss) (Electronics)
This is my first HDTV, but not the first I've had experience with. I wasn't sure what to expect with it when I hooked it up but I am not at all unhappy with this television.
My main uses for this TV include:
HD Gaming (Xbox 360)
SD Gaming (Wii, PS2)
and DVDs
Usability:
The remote is easy to read and easy to use. It's far more streamlined than my previous television's remote and easy to get at what I want to. It's easy to set the Input channels: TV, Video out, Colorstream HD (the channel for the composite hook-ups), HDMI 1, HDMI 2, and PC. You also have the choice of 6 ways to display what's on screen, which is handy when switching between game consoles that are HD to one that is a bit older and displays in non-Progressive SD.
Screen Quality and Clarity:
The screen displays BEAUTIFULLY, crisply, and cleanly. The reaction time and contrast is very good just looking at it with a discerning eye. My HD video games play really well and whether I'm playing RPG's or a fast paced FPS games, everything comes out clear, crisp, and with no artifacts when the picture is moving fast. DVDs display sharply and clearly and I don't have to squint or toy with the contrast to make anything out, even in darker games or movies.
Another great thing about this TV is that you have to move at very odd angles, sometimes even almost completely facing the side to get a major loss in viewing quality. You don't have to sit straight across from it to get the only good picture, sometimes I sit on the floor a few front of the TV looking up at it and it's still clear and perfect. So if you're pressed for space like I am, this is a great TV.
Sound:
It's a bit tinnier than my previous set's bombastic sound but it's still great without an added speaker system. The volume is really good, and it sounds gorgeous for the sounds of my 360 games. With or without a home theater speaker system, it sounds fantastic.
All in all, this is a GREAT SET, doubly so if you are looking to have BANG FOR YOUR BUCK.
I am a regular DVD watcher and hardcore gamer and this perfectly suits my needs, as well as my family who just like to use it to watch television.
The ONLY gripes I have with it are that I wish that it had one more component cable hook-up and one more composite cable hook-up, but it's fine for what I'm using it for right now.
This is my first HDTV, but not the first I've had experience with. I wasn't sure what to expect with it when I hooked it up but I am not at all unhappy with this television.
My main uses for this TV include:
HD Gaming (Xbox 360)
SD Gaming (Wii, PS2)
and DVDs
Usability:
The remote is easy to read and easy to use. It's far more streamlined than my previous television's remote and easy to get at what I want to. It's easy to set the Input channels: TV, Video out, Colorstream HD (the channel for the composite hook-ups), HDMI 1, HDMI 2, and PC. You also have the choice of 6 ways to display what's on screen, which is handy when switching between game consoles that are HD to one that is a bit older and displays in non-Progressive SD.
Screen Quality and Clarity:
The screen displays BEAUTIFULLY, crisply, and cleanly. The reaction time and contrast is very good just looking at it with a discerning eye. My HD video games play really well and whether I'm playing RPG's or a fast paced FPS games, everything comes out clear, crisp, and with no artifacts when the picture is moving fast. DVDs display sharply and clearly and I don't have to squint or toy with the contrast to make anything out, even in darker games or movies.
Another great thing about this TV is that you have to move at very odd angles, sometimes even almost completely facing the side to get a major loss in viewing quality. You don't have to sit straight across from it to get the only good picture, sometimes I sit on the floor a few front of the TV looking up at it and it's still clear and perfect. So if you're pressed for space like I am, this is a great TV.
Sound:
It's a bit tinnier than my previous set's bombastic sound but it's still great without an added speaker system. The volume is really good, and it sounds gorgeous for the sounds of my 360 games. With or without a home theater speaker system, it sounds fantastic.
All in all, this is a GREAT SET, doubly so if you are looking to have BANG FOR YOUR BUCK.
I am a regular DVD watcher and hardcore gamer and this perfectly suits my needs, as well as my family who just like to use it to watch television.
The ONLY gripes I have with it are that I wish that it had one more component cable hook-up and one more composite cable hook-up, but it's fine for what I'm using it for right now.
buy Samsung PN50C450 50-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV
Samsung PN50C450 50-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV (Black) (Electronics)
I love the hugeness and picture quality on this set, but that can only go so far if there is burn-in. The burn-in sets in after about 30 minutes and goes away after about 30 minutes of having something else on the screen, so it's not horrible, but it sure is annoying. And speaking of annoying, the buzz is HORRIBLE. This doesn't seem to bother guests at my house, but it drives me INSANE. I've always been hyper-sensitive to any sort of noise - I was the person who could tell from 3 rooms down the hall that there was a tube TV powered on, but the buzz in this set should definitely be taken into consideration, especially if you're like me when it comes to this sort of thing. But overall, not a bad set for the price, I don't regret my purchase.
buy Toshiba 19CV100U 19-Inch 720p LCD/DVD Combo TV
Toshiba 19CV100U 19-Inch 720p LCD/DVD Combo TV (Black Gloss) (Electronics)
I have numerous LCD TVs but they are all larger than this one. I wanted a 19 inch for ease of portability and the ability to take it on trips and to be used in different rooms as needed. Without getting technical, this unit seems to have a very sharp picture, great contrast and brightness, and a easy to use remote right out of the box. The DVD player seems to be high quality and is worth the $80 extra over a non-DVD model. I'm sure you will be glad you chose this TV...it's a jewel.
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