2 comments about Samsung LN46A630 46-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV with Red Touch of Color.

1. Background:
   After doing extensive research across the board, I ended up deciding I would probably like the Samsung A650 series. I went into BB to try and take a look for myself, the Full Gloss screen threw reflections all over the place, and bothered me quite a bit.
   
   Now take the guts of the A650 and put it into the same package, with a semi-matte screen. Now you have a killer combination that looks amazing on the eyes.
   
   Don't take my word for it, More Reviews:
   -Consumer Reports loves Samsung LCD's, which are ranked #1
   
   -Go to http://www.avsforum.com/ , check out the Forums->LCD, you can waste your life on this site, I'd say go for the Pro reviews of the A650, and you'll see why people love this TV
   
   -Check out the reviews for the A650's here on amazon, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001413D94/
   
   -Cnet's review of the A650, you will notice the only drawbacks they listed were "relatively expensive" amazon helps here, and "shiny screen reflects ambient room lighting" and the A630's semi-matte screen works to solve that issue, http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/samsung-ln52a650/4505-6482_7-32887597.html?tag=mncol;lst
   
   
   Recommendation:
   I'm very happy with the TV: the back light is even across the TV, the blacks are crisp, picture quality can't be beat, the 120hz+auto motion result in smooth images and the semi-matte screen doesn't act like a mirror for the room like the A650's do. Finally, the surrounding frame is leaner and not nearly as noticeable as the A650s.
   
   Highly recommended. 5 Stars.



2. I have been watching LCD prices for 2 years. 40 inch LCDs have been dropping $50 per month for the last 6 months and it seems to have reached a plateau and may drop only $25 a month for the next 6 months. 46 inch has been dropping $100 per month the past 6 months and will drop $50 to $70 per month for the next 6 months.
   
   I just bought this one, but i recommend waiting 6 more months if 46 inch is "your size" because losing $50 to $70 per month is a lot just to have a bigger TV. Samsung and sony are the best LCDs and this is the best price on a 46 inch Samsung and is as good as any other 46 inch LCD samsung makes, but $800 less. The "better" 46 inch Samsungs are thinner, a little brighter, about 8% lighter, and have something called "infolink" that brings in active content like sports scores and stock prices. The 60% increase in price for the other 46 inch Samsungs is too much difference right now for too little improvement in my opinion. They will come down in price $100 per month until getting to this price. The 630 is a smaller number than the 850 or 950, but the 630 is only 2 months old.
   
   This at $1370 is the lowest price on the internet right now, 10/6/2008 if it's free shipping and no tax. Circuit city is selling it for $1700 plus tax.

5 comments about Sony Bravia Z-Series KDL-40Z4100/B 40-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV, Black.

1. I was looking for a 40" LCD and narrowed it down to the Sony 40Z4100, Sony 40XBR4, and Samsung LN40A750... I've previously owned a 46" Samsung LN-T4665F and a Samsung LN-T3253H so naturally I wanted to go back to Samsung. The picture on the 750 is amazing but side by side, in multiple stores, I just couldn't take my eyes off the Sony LCDs. I then was stuck between the Sony 40XBR4 and the 40Z4100...
   I had my heart set on the XBR4 since it was Sony's top of the line product last year, but when I saw that this years 40" XBR6 and XBR7 were going to have identical specs to the Z4100, (granted Contrast Ratio will probably be higher on the XBR's,) it came down to the simple question of:
   
   Do I want to spend $2500+ on the new XBR or $1700+ on the Z4100??
   
   I have to say I'm extremely happy with my decision to save a few bucks and go with the Z-series. The picture quality is breathtaking in both HD and Blu-Ray. Standard TV is top notch as well but I'm blown away with the detail, color, and overall picture this TV offers. You really can't lose if you're going with any of these 3 TV's but I'm so glad I went with the Z-series. Its thin frame is hardly seen and the TV is almost 20 lbs lighter than the XBR4... The Sony 40Z4100, is hands down, my choice for a 40" LCD.



2. I have been using an old 27 inch Zenith for over 6 years and the color was really starting to bleed so I started looking into lcd tv's and found the sony KDL-40Z4100/B and was very impressed with the features that it offered. I spent at least a month researching tvs but still came back the the sony. The sony tv was a bit more than the others but my parents have a 52" JVC HD-ILA tv and this I feel is no comparison to mine now. I find myself watching the HD stations the majority of the time but am also very impressed at the regular channels. I really like the slim bezel design, it helps give the tv a lighter foot print.



3. Perfect size, perfect picture, great sound (even without a home theater sound system), plenty of HDMI inputs for Blu-ray, Cable, etc. Great to finally have a widescreen for my Nintendo Wii too.
   
   Stop searching for the best HD TV, this is it!



4. Lots of research went into selecting this television, both on-line and in the store. The picture & sound quality is outstanding and more features than we need right now. After waiting for weeks at Sears, we finally gave up and ordered it from Amazon and had it in a few days! The delivery service was superb! This TV looks great too, especially because of the really thin bezel...it seems like a bigger picture than 40". Completely pleased with this Sony!



5. I have the 40 inch version and while the HD is amazing, I think where it will stand out to the average users is it's ability to upscale standard definition signals. It does an amazing job. I have (non-HD) Dish Network (at least until AT&T's U-verse is available on my block) and this set gives my Dish Network subscription a new lease on life.
   
   The other killer feature is the 'favorites' button on the remote. It will allow you to select which input to view by a animated, ribbon like menu of icons (XBR) that you can somewhat customize. This makes it simple to change sources for those less likely to understand HDMI1, HDMI2, Component 1, Composite, etc.
   
   Picture quality is flawless. The only thing it doesn't have is...wait, it's not missing anything. This costs more than most it's size but it fits smaller spaces since the speakers are under the LCD and the frame around the LCD is less than 1 inch.
   
   This set gave me the most bang for the space, not buck. It's not the cheapest but I have no buyer's remorse either - and I AM cheap.

3 comments about Panasonic Viera TC-32LZ800 32-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.

1. Fantastic TV Superb picture on Comcast Cable. Viewable from anywhere in room, even floor below TV.
   Have 4 HD TV's in home, Sony, JVC, Samsung,and Panasonic. This one is the best! 2nd place, Sony. My next big screen will be a Panasonic
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
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2. 
   This new for 2008 Panasonic Viera 32 inch set is simply the best buy in true HDTV.
   For about $875 including shipping and no tax, it offers an outstanding picture,
   many inputs and outputs, great over-the-air reception using rabbit ears, and is fully
   compatible with our extensive library of 600 videotapes plus 200 standard DVDs.
   Cable inputs connect our old VCR and DVD players and this Panasonic does the rest!
   
   We really like the "format" function on the remote, offering zoom, 4:3, full, just, and
   H-fill options so you can fill the screen every time. We use zoom and full most often.
   This eliminates the black bands on widescreen movies and our old videotapes lose their
   obsolete shape and fill the screen.
   
   The set has an SD card slot so you can watch slide shows on this TV. While we do not
   play video games, the set has two HDMI inputs plus one for PC. Only one complaint:
   we need to turn the volume up to 85 out of 100 to hear the speakers clearly. I wear
   my Sennheiser TR120 wireless earphones to increase the volume for 74-year-old ears.



3. A fantastic set that I can only wish was a bit smaller and lighter. The 32" was bought for a road presentation kit and is the smallest we could find with PC, TV and the SD slide connections. Panasonic could make a nice niche market with a smaller version, but I understand people at home want to cover their walls more than carry a plasma in a case. With Pelican case the kit is just under 70 pounds (airline max) and we'll likely us it in the office for scrolling information media when not on travel. One thought for later readers, if the Chinese can roll out a field sized LCD for the Olympics, I'd expect to see an LCD screen I can roll up like a poster in a couple of years. The SD is a great idea the other manufactures should also look at. I'm very impressed with the product line and for my own home would definately like to see the 42" or 50" version with all the connections this one has.

5 comments about Samsung PN42A450 42-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV.

1. Got TV 3 weeks ago and it plays great!! I choose an Amazon affiliate so I could't get the "White Glove" delivery. They called me first and delivered right on time. They only plug in the TV to insure it plays and no obvious damage but I am satisfied. I'm not a TV geek so for right now we are using the same hookup we had on our tube TV. Dish Network and co-axail cable to a 322 Dish box and co-axail to TV. I don't believe I have true HD but it's great reception any how. I've got the componet cables and will hook them up soon. The TV is absolutly great!! The whole Amazon experiance was great and would highly recommend.



2. I bought this tv for my living room and I loved it. I was considering the same tv for my mancave in the basement, but then I saw a combo special with the Panasonic Viera TH-42PX80U and Xbox 360 at a great price. I bought the Panasonic and the picture was nice, but it bothered me that there was no swivel base and no headphone jacks.....the Samsung has both of these features. I returned the Panasonic and got another Samsung. I am so glad I did so. With a 10% mover's coupon that you can find on the internet, you can get this tv at Best Buy for $808. It's just a great value.



3. I bought this TV about two weeks ago... I was originally looking for a Sony LCD Bravia 40" 1080HD (W300 Series) or the Samsung PN50A550 (50" Plasma 1080p/i resolution).
   
   I went to a local store and saw this TV lying between the models described above - I thought it was a 1080 TV... image quality was about the same. It has better color and sharpness than the Sony LCD, and as in all TVs, it has a slight advantage over the bigger Samsung Plasma despite its 720p versus 1080p so called "disadvantage".
   
   Then came the issue of pricing and looks... this one is a looker and for around $900 bucks it is a steal. Something told me to buy it and so I did.
   
   When I got home I was first disappointed in its display of standard cable (coaxial analog)... standard cable only works in a regular CRT.
   
   Next day I took it to a friends house who has digital cable and lord behold - Digital Cable is 720P so there is no real use for a 1080 Tuner - Image quality was great.
   
   Then came the real reason I wanted a Plasma... My Sony Playstation 3 AKA Blue-Ray Player.
   
   OH MY GOD... I had purchased Metal Gear Solid 4 and Grand Turismo 5 Prologue. I connected it USING A $20 Radio Shack HDMI Cable (Dont spend $100 on Monster Cable, its not worth it) and the games came alive. I could feel myself driving in the Ferrari F430, I could literally feel my self in the middle of war as I played MGS5. The definition, color depth, sharpness and lack of image noise was incredible. Its a great TV for any PS3 or new generation video game console.
   
   Then I went and purchased Transformers the Movie in Blue Ray... Holly Cow!!!. You haven`t seen this movie until you have seen it through blue-ray and this TV. You can see every minor detail about Optimus Prime, Bumble-Bee and the rest of the characters... plus the size is excellent for a small living room or your bedroom (mines is about 60 square feet and it looks gigantic)
   
   I dont understand how it works but it has and integrated circuitry that takes and ordinary 720P signal and digitally converts it to 1080 resolution, plus ·D filters for gaming. Believe me, I hate Digitally Remastered anything (just try using your digital zoom on a digital camera and you know hoe poor this technology usually is) but in this case IT WORKS... Realistic Colors, no aliasing, no blurs, great whites, great blacks, blues, reds, and little or no image "double-edges".
   
   Both my games and Blue-Ray movies are converted to 1080p resolution and they look amazing.
   
   One complaint: Speakers at 10x2 watts are weak and have no bass power... but we all know that is not the idea behind an HDTV... I have a Sony 6.1 Home Theater... I just plugged it to get outstanding sound and a recreate a real movie theater experience... Any Sony, Denon op Kenwood Receiver with 5.1 or better performance (500 Watts at least) will solve this problem in a snap.
   
   It is definitely a great bang for your buck deal, it is truly designed for HDMI devices and it looks cool too.
   
   I am One Happy Camper!



4. I orded a Samsung PN42A450.It has been sitting in Orlando for five days because Amaxon does update they're files.I had complete shipping information on the order including phone number but the shipping company has a two year out dated number. Could have purchased at cc for the same price and had less hassle and ...tax
   
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5. I purchased this from amazon and its a great tv. It has great color and great sound. The hd channels are clear and beautiful its a great tv.!!!!!

5 comments about Pioneer KURO PDP-6020FD 60-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV.

1. The Kuro PDP-6020FD is an exceptional flat panel display. I continue to marvel at the realism when watching High Definition shows. I do not hesitate to recommend this device.
   
   At the end of my review I will include D-Nice's review from the AVS Forum. It will provide a technical evaluation for you to judge the 6020.
   
   The following is my Amazon purchasing experience... In a pre-purchase call to Amazon a representative confirmed that they are an authorized Pioneer dealer and that `White Glove Delivery' was included in the indicated purchase price. []
   
   The 6020 was ordered on Sunday and delivered the following Friday. For whatever reason, the order was not coded as `White Glove Delivery'. I eventually prevailed and the delivery was delivered `White Glove'. Regardless of how handy you are, `White Glove delivery' is extremely important. This type of delivery service requires the delivery team to setup and turn on the TV. When a shipment is left at your door it can be defective and you do not discover this until well after the delivery team has left. If you receive a defective TV with `White Glove Delivery', one simply refuses delivery; the delivery team will repackage the device and return it to Amazon. Without `White Glove Delivery' one is stuck with a defective TV and must endure the process of repackaging, storing and returning it.
   
   When the team unpackaged my first set the screen was covered with spider cracks. The device was repackaged and back it went to Amazon. If there is an issue with the delivery, I encourage you to call the returns department at Amazon that handles Plasma TV's. There is a special telephone number. If you reach an overseas Amazon representative ask for the call to be transferred to this department. This department is located in the States. They are available 7 days a week but are not available round the clock. I ended up speaking with a tremendous representative who was a Supervisor. He made sure that a new order was processed, the `White Glove Delivery' was coded clearly on the order and Amazon provided a substantial discount on the order due to the difficulties that were encountered. I received the replacement TV five days later on the following Wednesday. The TV was delivered in perfect condition. The `White Glove Delivery' team setup the TV turned it on and removed the packaging. I also received two other price reductions when Amazon dropped the price of the set in the following two weeks.
   
   The issues I had could have happened from any vendor. The difference is that Amazon had a system in place which corrected that matter in an efficient manner with a minimum of inconvenience to me. Amazon also had the best price and delivery options.
   
   The picture quality is stunning. I highly recommend the 6020 and Amazon as a reputable dealer.
   
   I have included D Nice's technical review from the AVS forum to provide the in depth details of the performance of this TV.
   
   
   Pioneer PDP 6020FD Review
   Reviewed by D Nice
   
   Overview
   Kuro (Kuro), the Japanese word for black, defines the core of Pioneer's Project KURO. Prior to last year, consumers were not privy to have a digital flat panel display that consistently reproduced the absence of color (black). In June 2007, Pioneer released into the wild a PDP display series that was capable of an unheard minimum luminance level, 0.004fL. This new pinnacle in black level not only provided rich, succulent blacks that true videophiles have been yearning ever since the demise of CRT, it also was baseline for depth defying colors that to this day leaves me awestruck. By the end of 2007, the KURO series was herald as the "best display ever". Everyone thought that it would be years before another display hit the market capable of outshining the 2007 KURO series. No one knew that we would only have to wait 6 months........enter the PDP 6020FD.
   
   Panel Design
   The PDP 6020FD continues Pioneer's minimalistic, yet elegant figure with its 57 11/16" x 34 1/2" piano black acrylic bezel. Fit and finish is top notch although the overall build quality is less than last year's PDP 6010FD. Pioneer also managed to trim panel bulk by 20% leaving us with a slim, 3.7" depth display.
   
   Features
   The PDP 6020FD is equipped with 4 HDMI 1.3a ports (three on the back, one on the left input/control panel), 1 component, 1 S Video, 3 composite, and 1 VGA input. Although this sounds like a plethora of input options, it's actually less that what its predecessor offered. However, Pioneer now allows owners to label each input (a big plus). Also new this year on the non Elite KUROs is a network interface port that allows owners to connect and stream video (limited file types), music, and pictures from their home PC/laptop. Setup and use was a breeze on my network. However, computer challenged owners may have issues using this feature....especially if they have a home network firewall.
   
   Pioneer has also included a new remote with the PDP 6020FD. Compared to last year's remote, the new remote sports a black covering and the layout is more user friendly with the channel and volume controls reversed from last year's layout (finally).
   Everything about the PDP 6020 reflects the theme "KURO".....including the new menu GUI. Gone is the "Windows XP" like menu colors that I have been accustomed to surfing on the previous Pioneer generations. They have been replaced with a more "Windows Vista" like "KURO" GUI.
   Thumbing through the new menu, one will find 7 Preset A/V picture modes and immediately notice a reduction of user controls. Unfortunately Pioneer has decided to strip the end user of the capability to change the color temperature, gamma, black/contrast enhancement features, and noise reduction.
   Instead they chose to hardcode these features in what they call "the most effective combination".
   Personally, I think this was a mistake on Pioneer's part. You NEVER, EVER, take away features that you offered in the previous generation. Pioneer is also rumored to has gone two steps further by deleting the RGB controls out of the Service Menu (not confirmed as of yet) and changing the sequence to access the Service Menu (confirmed). These "castrations" do not bold well for those who chose not to shell out more money for the Elite KUROs to "tweak" their panels more to their personal tastes and/or HD standards. Shame on you Pioneer.
   I'm sure at this point the question that is on everyone's mind is "What does the removal of these items have on actual PQ?" Well let's find out..........
   
   Picture Mode Overview
   
   Optimum Mode
   Out of the box, the PDP 6020FD is set to Optimum mode. Optimum mode is designed to constantly modify the contrast, brightness, color, tint, etc controls based on the room environment. This year, Pioneer added sound control to Optimum mode's "automatic" adjustments. PQ in this mode was good, but I could see edge enhancement on many scenes and test patterns. Although I could not get a completely accurate grayscale reading within this mode due to the constant adjustments, it averaged around 7400K. This will please most viewers during daytime and/or sports viewing as a "bluer" white is more pleasing and can add more "punch" to the picture. However, I do not recommend this mode for critical movie and/or night viewing. This mode is universal, regardless of input selection.
   
   Performance Mode
   Now, one would think that Performance mode would be the mode that makes the Pioneer 6020FD shine. Well, this is not the case and it's one of the worst A/V modes available on the
   6020FD.Beyond its S shaped gamma curve (hump between 60 and 80% stimuli), this mode produced an 8600K average grayscale and crushed everything in the 0 10% stimuli range with the brightness control set to 0. This mode provides improved shadow detail with a brightness setting of +4, but it still is lacking somewhat. If a 6020 owner previously owed a LCD display, this mode would probably please him as it provides an extremely punchy picture with "crisp" (aka edge enhanced) highlights to boot. Critical viewers should stay away from this mode. This mode is universal, regardless of input selection.
   
   Dynamic Mode
   By all means, STAY AWAY from this mode!!!!!!! This mode is universal, regardless of input selection.
   
   Movie Mode
   This is the de facto mode on the PDP 6020FD. It sports an average grayscale of 6350 (6347 to be exact) and a 2.27 gamma. This A/V mode produces the most accurate picture I have ever seen on a non Elite Pioneer.......ever!!! All review material and PDP panel shoot out results were done using this mode. This mode is universal, regardless of input selection.
   
   Sports Mode
   This is an absolutely horrible A/V mode. Grayscale is well over 10K with non defeatable edge enhancement and an S shaped gamma curve to boot. This mode is universal, regardless of input selection.
   
   Game Mode
   This mode would have been a great mode if it did not have an 8K grayscale. Gamma is ok at
   2.17 and it only has minor edge enhancement. This mode is universal, regardless of input selection.
   
   Standard Mode
   This is the only mode in which each individual A/V input can house discrete settings.
   Unfortunately, this is the absolute worst A/V mode available on the 6020FD. It is similar to Performance mode, but crushed blacks far more. This is the first A/V mode I have ever encountered on any display that actually makes a 10% stimuli full field pattern look like a 0% stimuli pattern.
   
   Measurements
   
   Contrast Ratio
   Again, all of the measurements were taken in Movie mode (after the 150 hour break in procedure), adjusted for the most accurate picture, and the Power Save mode was set to Off. On a 0% stimuli pattern, the 6020FD can get really dark. In fact, the pixels literally turn off after 30 seconds on this pattern. Technically speaking, this means the 6020FD is capable of an infinite On/Off contrast ratio. However, this 0fL idle luminance is not achievable beyond a 0% stimulus pattern and I will refrain from using the 0fL reading in my official numbers. Using a window pattern, I measured a peak contrast ratio of 38,900:1 (38.9fL peak white with an astonishing, pre 30 seconds 0% stimuli pattern, minimum luminance level of 0.001fL....the lowest my AEMC
   813 can go). Full screen white contrast ratio measured 21,300:1 (21.3fL peak white, 0.001fL video black). ANSI came in at 14,600:1.
   
   Grayscale
   Grayscale averaged 6347 from 10 100% stimuli. Although this grayscale isn't true D65, I found it very pleasing to the eye and was hard pressed to see the slightly "redder" tone on regular content. Any RGB Service Menu tweaks on this PDP will yield an incremental improvement at best.
   
   IRE Measurement
   10 6138
   20 6340
   30 6356
   40 6389
   50 6370
   60 6420
   70 6347
   80 6371
   90 6362
   100 6385
   
   Color Points
   Just like its predecessor, the PDP 6020FD's user menu does not house any controls that can be used to properly calibrate the colors. On top of that, Pioneer has again chosen to hardcode the
   6020FD with a wider color gamut (Colorspace 1) which exceeds the reference HD Rec. 709 Colorspace. The actual color points are remarkably similar to the 6010FD, with oversaturated green and red primaries, greener yellow, and a redder magenta:
   
   Viewing Angle
   There was no visible drop off in contrast and color from extreme horizontal angles of 75° off axis. However, there is a slight brightness drop off from vertical angles above 60°. I must note that I had to be standing 2 feet in front of the panel to see this drop off.
   
   Other Measurements
   Dead pixels none
   Screen uniformity Perfect
   HDMI Overscan 0% with Dot by Dot and 2% with Full
   Blacker than black Passed
   Black level Excellent
   Black level retention none
   Video deinterlacing Excellent
   Film deinterlacing Passed 3:2/ 2:2 cadence in all resolutions
   Viewing angle Excellent (> 150°)
   Motion resolution 950
   Digital noise reduction Very good (HD content)
   Sharpness Defeatable edge enhancement (Movie mode only)
   Image retention Very minor before 150 hour break in. Zero after.
   Posterization Minor with HD cable
   1080p/24 capability Yes. No telecine judder
   
   Performance
   "My God! It's full of stars" would be the slogan I'd use to summarize the 6020FDs performance.
   Flanked to the left of a TH50PZ800u and below my Elite 1150HD, the 6020FD presented a picture that neither could fully replicate. Throughout the entire comparison, the following words stayed in my mind: smoooooth, clear, sophisticated, intoxicating.
   
   Dark Room HD DVD and BD Performance
   The 6020FD's 0.001fL black level created an eerie void adjacent to the other PDPs. I've never seen this much depth and shadow detail on a digital display. Watching Blackout destroy Soccent
   Airbase on the HD DVD presentation of Transformers, the black level difference between the
   6020FD and the 50PZ800u was not subtle, it was dramatic. Black levels on the 6020FD made the
   PZ800u's blacks (measured @ 0.008fL) look like a dark shade of gray. The top and bottom bars literally disappeared into the 6020FD's screen. In comparison, I could always make out the bars on the 50PZ800u, but their luminance was subtle and much improved over previous Panasonic generations. Colors during the movie just looked better on the 6020FD. Although the 50PZ800u was fully calibrated to D65 and had better primary color plots, the 6020FD had a certain quality the Panasonic just didn't quite have: a creamy smoothness to the image. And this feeling remained seared into my sub conscious; even though the numbers say otherwise. Getting within 1.5 feet of the 6020 and 50PZ800u, I could see an ever so slight level of noise on the 50PZ800u screen. Engaging the Video NR filter on the Panasonic removed the noise, but killed some of the high frequency detail. The 6020s picture was void of any and all noise. Kudos goes to Pioneer for their hardcoded NR filters being setup just right for HD content.
   Switching to 2001 on BD, the 6020FD continued to create exceptionally dynamic images with life like clarity, super sharp, and super smooth frames. The white ships on the star filled space backdrop had much more pop compared to both the 1150HD and 50PZ800u. Black bars again disappeared into the background of the 6020FDs panel, unlike the very, very slight luminance on the 1150HD (measured @ 0.004fL). Compared to the 1150HD, the 6020 can go brighter when the scene calls for it. For instance, the space station lobby scene with the red chairs looked noticeably brighter on the 6020 compared to the 1150HD. For reference, both were calibrated to roughly 39fL peak light output.
   Watching Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End, the 6020 once again spanked the 1150HD in overall brightness level. Watching the Black Pearl float in the white sands of Davy Jones's
   Locker, the sand was actually too bright on the 6020FD for my tastes. I actually had to engage
   Power Save Mode 1 to keep the brightness at bay.
   
   Dark Room SD DVD Performance
   Feeding all three panels a 480i presentation of Sin City, the 6020FD finally showed some weakness. Although black levels and dynamic range were far superior on the 6020FD, my
   1150HD produced a sharper image. Goldie's facial details were much more pronounced on my
   1150. Continuing on with Finding Nemo, Aliens, Star Wars Episode III, and Lord of the Rings
   Return of the King produced the same "softer" results. The 50PZ800u with the same material was either on par or slightly worse compared to the 6020FD. I'm not sure if the lack of sharpness is due to Pioneer coding different NR levels on 480i/p signals or 768p vs 1080p native screen resolution. This is something I'll have to revisit once I test a 9G Pioneer Elite.
   
   HD Cable Performance
   The 6020FD presented 1080i/720p in the same fashion as HD DVD and BD presentations except that it showed me every single thing that was wrong with the compressed HD signals that broadcasters are shoving down our throats. Although the 6020FD was capable of showing the tiniest bits of details in static 1080i images, moving scenes were riddled with macroblocking and other picture artifacts. Dot by dot mode reduced some of these artifacts. However, it failed to give me the same pristine picture my 1150HD was simultaneously showing. The 50PZ800u weathered the same issues as the 6020FD. I guess 1300 compressed lines of resolution from a
   SA8300HD cable box doesn't bold well on 1080p displays.
   
   SD Cable Performance
   SD cable viewing on the 6020FD was just as disappointing as SD DVD performance. Once again the 6020 presented a softer, less tasteful picture compared to my 1150HD. Watching SD channels with either Wide or Cinema stretch modes was at times annoying due to the soft picture and took time to get use to. Artifacts could easily be seen, regardless of channel. I know many will say that SD cable will always look "poor at best" on a 1080p display. However, I think the people deserve a little better than what the 602FD can muster.
   
   Daytime Performance
   The 6020FD really shines in low lighting environments. However, its daytime performance isn't anything to balk at. Pioneer's AR coating kept reflections at bay and on par with my 1150HD.
   The Panasonic 50PZ800u didn't bold as well. Black levels remained inky, but I know that a
   Samsung LCD would have provided "bezel blacks" due to its AR coating design. Never less, I would not call the blacks on the 6020FD during the daytime (with lots of ambient light, I might add) "grey", "blue", or any other color besides black. The 6020FD's improved brightness was most valuable during daytime viewing keeping the whites of snow peaked mountains and the ice rinks on hockey games bright and glistening.
   
   Anomalies
   There were a number of "bugs" reported with last year's KURO series. Pioneer did address most of these issues, but did not fix all of them (even after I was told that they were corrected): Blotching Still present. Only visible on a completely black screen.
   Pure Cinema ADV Screen Dimming Fixed
   Pure Cinema ADV Screen Flicker Fixed
   Buzzing Power supply buzz has been corrected. Panel buzz is negligible.
   
   
   
   Conclusion
   The 6020FDs introduction poised many challenges for Pioneer. Could Pioneer improve on a series that has won more awards than I have fingers to count? Could Pioneer drop the minimum luminance level of a PDP that to date, no other manufacturer has yet equaled or surpassed? Could Pioneer create a PDP that expresses a voluptuous color pallet that is second to none? Is it possible? Overall, I would have to say yes. The 6020FD will quench any potential owner's thirst for unparalleled picture quality like no other display I've encountered. Mouthwatering colors, mystifying black levels coupled with mind boggling contrast dynamics. Unfortunately, the 6020FD is not without flaws: soft SD PQ performance, paltry number of user picture controls....especially on a $5,500 TV, A/V picture mode performance (minus Movie and Optimum mode) that you would expect on a Vizio, Olevia, or other cheap display. However, the 6020FDs overall presentation in Movie mode is second to none. I'll end this on a
   Will Smith quote from Independence Day:
   "I have GOT to get me one of these!!!!"



2. I can't express how much I love this TV. The deep blacks makes the picture pop with a rich dimension. Watching movies on Blu-Ray on this set is now one of my favorite pass times. I just purrrr with happiness when I sit and watch movies and sports on this. You won't regret your purchase if you cost is not an option.



3. This is one great TV. Picture is amazingly crisp and sharp.
   Only problem I had, was with a remote. I called Pioneer customere Service and They gave me local phone number to call for free service. I left a message with this company. It has been more than 4 days and still no body has called me to resolve my problem. Meanwhile, I resolved the problem on my own effort.
   Other than that, love this great television set.



4. The new Kuro PDP 6020FD has excellent picture quality. I noted the PDP 6010FD for sale at Sam's Club for $3958, listed as a one-time buy. I figured this was the closeout of the old stock coming with the release of the PDP 6020FD. Amazon had a great price on the new model, and with delivery it was a better deal to get the new model. Delivery went faster than expected, and it was up and working within an hour. I have it burned in and just had its calibration done. Everyone is shocked by the picture quality. It is excellent.



5. This is the best Plasma out there by far (and I reviewed them all for the last 2 years before buying one). I read reviews that spoke of the inability to make detailed picture adjustments but have found this to be a false statement. It has plenty of picture options for any format you would want to watch from movies to sports. Keep in mind that you will need to purchase HD reception to really get a quality picture. Once you do this you will never regret the money you spent. I hooked it up to an HD DVR and it is better than going to an IMAX theatre! The Home Media Gallery is feature that influenced my choice and I am totally satisfied that I paid for this. I have my entire home wired with CAT5 and the network is ran by 2 Home Servers. With this TV hooked up to the network I can play music like it's cool along with photo slide shows and movies. HMG makes this plasma not only a TV but a full entertainment center. Final thoughts...The setup was a breeze and the TV was ready 15 minutes after it was delivered. This plasma has more options for viewing and sound than the reviews on any website reveal. BUY IT!!!

5 comments about Samsung LN22A451 22-Inch 720p LCD HDTV, White.

1. Everything good with this set.. Color , sound, and soon to be hooked up to HD form many programs..



2. The television is fantastic. I only have one small problem with my remote. When watching something and switching to another channel the remote does not let me go back to original show I was watching.
   
   Perhaps I could receive a new remote?
   
   Thanks you.
   
   Mary Dickman
   5849 Park Street N. #212
   St. Petersburg, FL 33709



3. Very happy with this purchase. Takes a little time to get the TV settings the way I like them. Very nice picture once that's done. Great price from Amazon on this one. Better than anyone else and the shipping was free with Amazon Prime.



4. we love the TV - except for the wretched sound. i had read the reviews that mentioned the poor sound, but didn't think it would be that bad. we hung the TV in the kitchen and don't have a stereo to hook it up to there.



5. nice tv for a bedroom or office space, can't beat the price and quality. Great buy.

5 comments about Panasonic Viera TH-42PZ80U 42" 1080p Plasma HDTV.

1. At 42 inches, this TV is right in that range for people who are deciding between Plasma and LCD and having owned both technologies, I would consider this TV better overall, but not for everybody. The pz80u has deeper blacks than any LCD in this price range and is able to get just as bright and white. Looking at the TV on the showroom floor, the picture may look somewhat dim but thats because the standard settings set the brightness and "picture" settings very low. Colors are beautiful, well saturated and pop more than most LCDs. Black levels are very good and unless you are viewing content in a completely dark room, there is not much more you could ask from this TV, and even then it performs very well and better than any LCD. SD content is scaled very well and looks very good although it is slightly fuzzy in some instances due to the fact that there is considerably less information to show from a 480i or 480p signal.
   
   All of the lighting in my room is behind the TV (two windows and a lamp) so I have had no issues with glare or reflections. If you do however have a room with lots of external lights which can't be moved, you may be able to see reflections on the screen in dark scenes as the screen is relatively shiny.
   
   I use my pz80u mostly for gaming and am yet to notice even the slightest bit of image retention or "burn-in" even after several long sessions of Call of Duty and Gears of War. I would still not recommend leaving a still image on the screen for any extended length of time, but even brand new, gaming is not a serious risk of image retention. Also for those interested, Guitar Hero played on this TV very well requiring only a 4ms lag calibration (which is basically nothing).
   
   For anyone considering the pz80u and the pz85u, I would recommend the 80u. Although the 85 does have a higher contrast ratio, if you compare the two sets side by side, there is little or no noticeable difference and for a $200 price bump, you are really only getting a VGA input which does not even support a 1920x1080 resolution. If you plan on connecting a computer to this monitor (and be careful of leaving an image on the screen too long if you are) I recommend using a DVI to HDMI cable to get a full 1920x1080 resolution. I have done this and it looks beautiful and the image is crisp and clear.
   
   This is definitely a great TV with a bright and beautiful picture and I would recommend it to anybody who has a room without lots of lights as that is the only advantage any LCD has over plasma. For the price, the pz80u is probably one of the best deals out there right now.



2. I decided to move my older plamsa to another room and upgrade to this 1080p set-up. Very pleased with the product, free shipping and ease of the installation. Another review suggested running the TV in "Just" mode for the first 100 hours to get the picture warmed up and decided to do so. The HDMI and SD card slots on the front of the set are great.
   
   Picture is stunning - 5 Star Deal!!!



3. This is a great TV, especially for the price. Bought from Amazon, shipped via CEVA and it arrived a day before original date. The only issue was that while tracking it I noticed the shipper said they were awaiting customer info, so I emailed through their website and received a reply within 12 hrs. All they wanted/needed was to schedule delivery. It was scheduled to be delivered between 9 & 12 and they arrived at 9:40. It was up and running in an hour and 3 hours later I was at our local Comcast office exchanging for an HD box. Awesome picture. Has been 2 weeks and still have no negative comments. Kudos all around



4. This TV is an awesome buy for the money. It doesnt come with all the bells and whistles but very happy so far. I got the TV at sears for 1099 2 weeks ago, and then the price dropped to 999 so I got the price match. The picture quality and features of the tv are great even in SD. The sound is so so but I plan to get a surround sound system, as well as a wall mount. One issue I did have was the first TV I got delivered had 4 small bars on the left side that distorted the picture slightly. I had sears bring another TV and take away the old one and its been fine with the new one. Once again sears $999.00 price and you cant beat that for a 1080 plasma tv.



5. We bought this set 5 months ago. At first, picture was really great. But after 4 months of use, a blue-green vertical stripe appeared at the left side of the screen. I have contacted Panasonic, and they said there was a TV NORM problem (since I bought it in the states, but moved to a PAL-N country and that I should pay for fixing it up, because the warranty was void, for being "out of zone". The answer is ridiculous. Both about the problem and about the solution, since we have a Panasonic representant in our country. Noneless to say, is not easy to move a 42" TV set. I bought it because the price was nice. But now I am very regretfull on having bought this brand. Conduct a search on "Panasonic Plasma stripe problem". You will see I am not the only one. And Panasonic, instead of recognizing the problem, tried to avoid their responsability saying there was a norm problem... Good luck with yours.

5 comments about Sony Bravia M-Series KDL-26M4000 26-Inch 720p LCD HDTV.

1. This is a great TV. Works great. Easy to set up. Just what I needed.



2. The M-Series 26" Sony Bravia has a nice looking HD picture but standard definition (SD) pictures are horrible and sound quality is poor. Once all the picture parameters are set for HD, these programs have great detail and resolution. Unfortunately, SD pictures are very soft, color rendition is poor and contrast is poor. Sound quality is tinny and sorely lacking in bass information.
   
   I bought this set beacuse of years of enjoyment with my 25" XBR from the late 1980's that still produces a great looking picture and has never seen the inside of a repair shop. But this M-series Bravia is a big disappointment given that some channels I enjoy are not currently offered in HD. That will change in time, but I thought any Sony product, even an entry level model, would be of better quality than this unit.



3. This product was "back ordered" at EVERY major electronics store, both
   national and local but for the same price the model it replaced was
   still available. Thanks to Amazon were got what we wanted, and fast.
   I might note that 2 of this model, "used", were available at the same
   price at the time, I assume both were display models since that seemed
   to be all that was at retailers. After our purchase both of these items
   were increased $100.
   Thanks, Amazon, even if we checked with about 12 outlets before we
   thought to go to you. It only takes one good one to fill the order.
   Donn Doyle



4. we first purchased another brand, terrible sound quality. went with this tv for the speaker quality. it's great!



5. Did quite a bit of research between Samsung and Sony on their lines of smaller LCDs - had a 22" Samsung 650 but the viewing angles were not very good (very light from viewed from above, and very dark when viewed from below). This Sony has excellent picture from any viewing angle and the price is very comparable with other 26" on the market.

5 comments about Samsung LN19A650 19-Inch 720p LCD HDTV with RED Touch of Color.

1. Bought for kitchen. Excellent picture except it is too small. Hard too see from 8 ft. sound is hard too get right. wish i would have gone bigger.



2. smooth perfomance, neat designed , affordable price, what else do you what? go ahead make yourself a day



3. clearly the Key Features say:
   Rear-mounted USB 2.0 port: connect USB devices directly to your HDTV to view JPEG photos or MPEG movies or easily listen to your MP3 player through your HDTV's audio system or your home theater system.
   
   but, not on this unit. in fact, not till you get to the 30" 6 series. That is too bad. After a ton of research, and confirmed with tier two support, the feature listed is not accurate.



4. I am very pleased with this set! I'd purchased it to place in my kitchen; the viewing distance from my kitchen table to the set is 8 feet, and I can watch with perfect visibility; the kitchen counter stretches another 7 feet and I am fine viewing the screen from that distance as well. Hooking up the HD cable box is a piece of cake, and I'd completed the task within 20 minutes; the TV will then automatically update the channels and you can of course, customize them as well. The color is great, and the deep red color within the frame of the set is very subtle. I truly believe that the clarity and crispness of this picture is better than my larger diameter HD set! Additionally, Samsung ranks high on dependability...
   
   The savings on the set is significant; PC Richards offered me a "rock bottom" price of $450.00; with tax, it was topping out at $481.00. Here at Amazon, there wasn't any sales tax, and being I am an Amazon prime member, I received 2 day shipping at no extra charge! Collectively, it is a savings of over $100.00!
   
   Buy this set; you won't be disappointed!
   Ellen



5. I use this TV in my bedroom. The picture and features are great! I'm very happy that I decided to make this purchase, although the screen does look a little smaller than I thought it would. You may wish to consider a 20" or 22" instead. The 19" does work OK for me, though, because I'm only about 5' away from it.
   
   I wish Amazon would be more careful with their packaging. The TV came in its original box from the mfg'er, which was put into a box about twice as large with very little packing material for cushioning. Very poor job, Amazon!

5 comments about Samsung PN58A550 58-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV.

1. Though not "cheap", I am amazed that a TV of this quality can be purchased for the price it's being offered at.
   
   I'm lucky: my experience was near flawless with the delivery of this television.
   
   It arrived when they said it would, and it was carefully unboxed, plugged in to make sure that it was working and then away the delivery men went. At first I asked that they take the box with them, but one of them wisely (or lazily... I think the former) suggested that I keep the box for a week in case something went wrong and the TV should have to be removed. In hindsight, though nothing has gone wrong with the TV, I think this sound advice. Storing a box of that size, however, presents problems of its own living in an apartment in an urban environment where space is harder to come by than in the suburbs.
   
   If not mounting the TV right away (as I did - had to put the 3rd party stand together when it was delivered) make sure to completely unbox the TV so that it can stand true.
   
   It's a monster: it's a giant sheet of fragile glass sitting in your room, not unlike the monolith in Arthur C Clark's books. It's not terribly heavy (158lbs with stand, 135lbs without), but it's awkward when lifted and a big slab to navigate should you have to go up stairs or around corners (neither of which I had to do).
   
   Once it's in place, it really is a thing of beauty with stunning picture quality and amazing detail at its native 1080p resolution. SD pictures on it, as many have said, are not great, but I belong to the school of thought that reasons you should be watching HD if you're buying this television, or any 1080p television of this size.
   
   I have a PS3 to accompany this behemoth and games and Blu-ray movies are mind blowing. I use a separate receiver, and speaker set-up for sound so can't honestly assess the aural qualities of the TV's speakers.
   
   The only problem you might have is that your living room will become your friend's new favorite movie theater... "Time to go fellas. Seriously. Fellas?"
   
   This TV is sold through Amazon, but WHO actually sells you the TV can revolve between any number of providers. I (wisely, or so I believe) waited until the TV was for sale by Amazon itself and not a 3rd party vendor. This made me feel more secure about the purchase and my recourses should something go wrong.
   
   Glare could also be an issue for those with a viewing set-up that has natural light behind the viewer, but in my case that hasn't been a problem.
   
   On the downside, and why I didn't give it 5 stars, is that it generates a lot of heat, and uses a LOT of electricity. I recognize that these drawbacks are inherent in the plasma technology, but it doesn't mean I have to like them.
   
   Overall, I am very, very happy with this purchase, and would recommend it to any and all of my friends.



2. Well we have now had the set for 4+months now and wanted time with the unit to write a review.
   Because I have a sony lcd XBR set which from the first week the picture went out, in came the service, 2 weeks later, picture gone again- service again, and again and again to where the service tech knew me quite well, and as most should know, the XBR seriers are suppose to be the top-of-the-line,,, things happen, but decided to focus on the plasma.
   I bought a panisonic plasma that the picture just brought tears to your eyes but saw this samsung at a store and what a picture. [...] I set it up with a playstation for the blue-ray and mounted the system on the wall.
   After 4 months, zero problems, the picture in HD is beyond words,,, only one problem- to parents!, I left for 4 weeks to do some work on a cabin and was informed that I lost the tv to the kids, x-box was hooked up, they bought new games for the playstation and was it in use almost 20 hours/day (schools out). HIDE THE REMOTE! My wife questioned the size but once in place she wants the 42" in the bedroom replaced,, I agreed. Remote is nice and easy, bought a yamaha 863 with hdmi hookups for the surround sound system. nothing noticable on the elc bill even with the kids. great investment and much better than the panies.



3. Still haven't finished calibration but the picture is already great. The first unit was damaged during shipping but a second was shipped promptly and the Amazon and CEVA staff were helpful throughout.



4. I bought this TV for my new townhouse to replace my old 32" Sharp LCD and all I can say is "wow". This TV provides amazing picture quality, excellent contrast ratio, and absolutely no motion blur when watching sports or other fast-moving shows. Not only is the picture excellent, but the sound isn't too bad either, although I did buy a surround system for it as well. The setup was easy and it has ports galore in the back of it, including 3 HDMI, a couple of component & composite inputs, and an optical audio jack as well, which I am using for the surround system. It has enough HDMI ports that I can hook up my PS3, Xbox 360, and cable box all through HDMI, which is something that my old TV didn't have.
   
   The delivery was OK... the guys had to circle back around to deliver this TV because I missed their call the first time that they called. However, they did deliver on a Saturday, which was pretty impressive. When they got there, they only had two guys and the TV weighs about 110 lbs. so I had to help them get it in the house and down the stairs. They tried to leave without helping me set it up and I had to ask them to do so. However, once I did, they unboxed it for me, lifted it onto my TV stand, plugged it into the wall, and plugged my cable box into the back of it. They then put the batteries into the remote and turned it on to make sure it worked. So all in all, they turned out to be pretty helpful.
   
   In conclusion, if you're looking for a big TV with stunning picture for hundreds less than at Best Buy or Circuit City (it was listed at MSRP at both places), then this is the TV for you. I got this for around $2750 and then got a $100 credit because of the price drop guarantee (which Amazon doesn't do anymore, by the way). I would definitely recommend this TV and Samsung in general to anyone looking for a good quality TV.



5. I bought this TV back in May and wanted to wait a while before making a review. I had an orginal Panasonic HDTV and loved it. It went out in January and I decided to buy a Panasonic but wanted this years 58" model. While waiting for the Panasonic to come out I saw the Samsung in Circuit City. I was very impressed but wanted the Panasonic. After waiting months with no release date, I decided to buy the Samsung. What a deal. This television is outstanding. I have this TV in my living room that has a large window. The glare is less than my original projection Panasonic. If I close the curtain there is no glare.
   
   I have nothing bad to say about this set. Regular cable is what I expected but HD is awesome. Blu Ray is even better. If you want a Panasonic don't overlook this television. It saved me at least three hundred dollars over the Panasonic and I didn't have to wait forever.
   
   Also Amazon is great. I got this TV 2 days after the order was processed. Hope this helps the people looking at Panasonics and Pioneer. They are all great but for less money you wont notice any difference.