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HDTV ELECTRONICS

Posted in HDTV (Thursday, July 24, 2008)

By Sony. The regular list price is $1,499.99. Sells new for Too low to display.
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Purchase Information
3 comments about Sony Bravia XBR-Series KDL-37XBR6 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
  1. The 37XBR6 is a great TV for movie buffs. The CineMotion technology on the 37XBR6 creates amazing, life-like motion in movies. Even older movies come to life with this technology. The picture color has a very natural look that doesn't look over-saturated like other TVs. The black level on the TV is amazing. I see details in movies I never saw before with my other HD TV. Also, videogames look great with no lag. A great purchase that I am very happy about.


  2. I had been searching for a large HDTV for some time, and had settled on either the latest Samsung 46 LCD or Panasonic 50 Plasma. But I still had a nagging bad feeling about the picture quality. I finally saw the Pioneer Kuro Elite 50 and knew that that was the ultimate. To get a larger screen though, I was going to need a new TV stand. When all was said and done, a 37" did not have the stretched pixel effect I was seeing in the larger screen sizes, and I wouldn't need a new stand. Then, as if by magic, the Sony XBR6 came out in a 37" size that had 24 frames per second capability, and I was sold. I have not been disappointed. The picture quality is awesome, and the integration with my Onkyo TX-SR606 and Panasonic DMP-BD30K is terrific (all support HDMI 1.3 so less cables - yeag!). This is one great TV, and Amazon's partner's price was great.


  3. This HDTV is outstanding. But, where is the Sony quality these days? Within two days this TV developed a vertical pixel line and that means it is defective - therefore 4 stars instead of 5. Amazon is replacing, but what happened to Sony quality. This is my second Sony purchase in the past few months that I have not been satisfied with. Thank goodness for Amazon customer service.

    TV has all the up-to-date inputs and outputs. Very attractive package, highest quality screen that I have ever seen in the competition.


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Posted in HDTV (Thursday, July 24, 2008)

By Samsung. The regular list price is $399.99. Sells new for Too low to display. There are some available for $304.95.
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Purchase Information
5 comments about Samsung LN19A330 19-Inch 720p LCD HDTV, Black.
  1. Pros: A fairly decent set. Easy to set up and get going. Very sensitive analog and digital tuners. Good picture.
    Cons: Don't buy this set if you use an outdoor antenna with rotator. The set does an "autoscan" to acquire and memorize all analog and digital channels with the antenna pointed in one direction. If you rotate the antenna to another position, you can manually enter analog channels into memory from the remote's keypad, but NOT the digital channels. In order to view the digital channels at the new antenna heading, you must perform the "autoscan" again... takes about 2 minutes... and the "autoscan" erases and replaces the channels memorized from the original antenna heading. Verified this performance issue with Samsung Tech support. Verified this flaw with sets in two dealer showrooms with Samsung HDTVs. No solution available. Sony and other sets worked fine for manual digital channel entry. This is a serious drawback for an otherwise good set.


  2. We bought this Samsung LN19A330 to replace an old tube TV we had in our home office. WOW! Even in full sunlight, the picture on this 19" Samsung LCD is perfect. We have an older model of the same TV in our guest bedroom, and the difference in the newer model is clearly visible -- brighter screen, more intense contrast, and the color is significantly more vivid. It is the perfect TV for a small room.


  3. This is my second Samsung flat screen -- the picture is perfect. This is a compact unit with a glossy black frame -- bought it for my guest room and it is hooked up to FIOS (Verizon) -- I am completely satisfied with this purchase from Amazon.


  4. We bought this tv for the kitchen. We use it with Rabbit Ears and it works very well. The HD picture is excellent. Non HD are not very good. Audio is OK. Over all a good TV if you need one of this size. I suspect they may be a little over priced.

    Update: We have had this TV for almost 2 months and like it better all the time. Picture quality actually is excellent on all over the air digital and HD, We only use it with attic antenna or rabbit ears. Audio is actually very good. It is built sturdy and yet very easy to move around form kitchen to patio. We could not be more satisfied with this little TV !


  5. This is a very good budget LCD TV for use in a kitchen, dorm room, small bedroom. 720p resolution is perfectly fine for a TV in this size (19"). The colors and picture look great with a bit of calibration (I found the default settings to be a bit too bright). There were enough A/V connections for me, although the audio from the built-in speakers is only adequate at best (but what else can one expect from a built-in audio system?). There are other models, both from Samsung and others, with more bells and whistles, but if you're looking for a good basic small LCD TV, this one is definitely worth considering.


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Posted in HDTV (Thursday, July 24, 2008)

By Toshiba. The regular list price is $549.99. Sells new for $539.95.
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Purchase Information
5 comments about Toshiba 26AV500U 26-Inch 720p LCD HDTV.
  1. I had to replace an analog TV, so I thought now would be a good time to buy an HDTV. I read a lot about HDTV and the great benefits that it brings to the TV world. I just have a roof antena in my attic and no cable. I read product reviews that flaged Toshiba as a good product/value and own several Toshiba electronic products, which have been great. I was hoping for better analog reception and good over the air HDTV. What I got was a super 26 inch Toshiba HDTV that has "much" better analog reception, fantastic HDTV reception all this at a great price, great delivery and a supper picture. BUY THIS TV!!!


  2. This is my first LCD / HD TV. I am very satisfied with the picture and sound quality, especially considering the price. However, Toshiba obviously didn't put a lot of effort into polishing some of the other features. Specifically, the user manual is almost incomprehensible and looks like it was translated from Japanese to English using Babelfish or something... Also customizing the channel lineup is difficult - you can set certain channels as "not viewable", but the firmware is finicky and won't always save your settings. Similarly, when changing inputs, the TV will often land on an input that's completely different from the one you selected for no obvious reason. This seems to point to shoddy firmware, but fortunately these are the only issues I've had so far.

    One issue that bugs me that seems to be present on all HDTVs I looked at is the slow response time (it takes 10 seconds just to power on!) On the plus side, if you are planning on gaming with this TV, I haven't noticed any significant lag in the video processing, but then again I don't generally play fast-twitch games.

    All in all, this is a great TV with with a lot of strength where it counts (picture and sound) and only a few minor flaws.


  3. I deeply enjoy my 32 inch Toshiba REGZA model, so when I wanted to get a 26 inch model for a small room (a kitchen), I didn't even look at any other brand. Unfortunately, no 26 inch REGZA model was readily available the day I made the purchase, so I took this 26 inch non-REGZA model. The picture is still gorgeous, though I strongly recommend getting the REGZA model in your desired size if at all possible. Perfect for wildlife and nature shows, as on Discovery HD Theater and National Geo HD channels, as well as for sports. Try the Sunrise Earth series on Discovery HD Theater--I think it's better (and better for you) than going to church! And for smallish screens (up through 32 inches) 480 is just as satisfactory as 720 or 1080 resolution. So save a few bucks and get a 480 model at a discounted price if you can find one. Else take the 720.

    One minor quibble: no headphone jack (why not, Toshiba?). So run the sound through your stereo system, or anything which has a volume control, and plug your headphones in there for listening alone without disturbing the household (try Koss A130 for very decent quality at a moderate price).


  4. When my 9 yr. old 27" Phillips/Magnavox CRT TV blew out on me a few days ago, forcing me to join the Flat Screen TV world, I was worried-Most of the Flat Screen TVs I've seen in stores, catalogs & online were 32" and above, and I didn't think I could find a medium sized HD TV that would fit in my cubby-holed entertainment room, and also provide me with a quality viewing experience. Then voila, I see the Toshiba 26AV500U; It has ALL of the Bells & Whistles of the larger Flat Screen TVs. And any concern I had in losing that one inch of screen view quickly vanished, when I saw the GREAT picture quality on this Set!! To be sure, it will be a bit of sticker shock for Newbie Flat Screen TV buyers who haven't upgraded their TVs since the CRT days,until you look over at the bigger models and prices;Then,you'll be grateful for having THIS available choice. So,for those who are looking for a Great Flat Screen HD TV with the economy of price and size,that doesn't sacrifice quality, the Toshiba 26AV500U is the PERFECT FIT!


  5. This is the first LCD TV I have ever owned. I did not purchase this TV from Amazon, so I cannot comment upon how this item ships, but I would like to put in my two cents about this product.


    What everyone has said about the picture quality is absolutely true. I had the opportunity to look at the Toshiba 26AV500U next to the likes of Samsung, Sony, and Panasonic, and I have to say that the Toshiba looked as good or even better than some of the various models offered by the competing companies. The well-defined contrast on the set is what gives it such a rich picture. Granted, this Toshiba is not the same quality as the sets that cost well over a thousand dollars, BUT, for less than $600, the picture alone is worth more than the money I spent. I am using this set in my very small bedroom, so the picture size is more than adequate. If you are looking for a set for your living room, you are probably better off getting a larger TV.

    The only reason I'm not giving this product five stars is because I have experienced a problem with losing the audio on the set a few times. For seemingly no reason and quite suddenly, the sound will cease to function. In the manual that comes with the TV, one is instructed to reset the TV by unplugging it for five seconds. Every time I employed this method, the sound restored. I am concerned that this may become a more serious problem in the months to come (especially after the one-year warranty expires). Maybe I have a lemon, or perhaps this is a common problem with these sets. I urge anyone who wishes to buy an LCD TV to do extensive research on reliability issues BEFORE buying. I will try to update this if anything else occurs.


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Posted in HDTV (Thursday, July 24, 2008)

By Sony. The regular list price is $3,299.99. Sells new for Too low to display. There are some available for $2,157.48.
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Purchase Information
5 comments about Sony Bravia XBR-Series KDL-46XBR4 46-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
  1. All in all this is a pretty good TV. There are only a couple of things that bug me:

    - The interface for the options menus is a little laggy, which is annoying because there are so many options to go through. I also found it difficult to tweak the colors because the options are not labeled very intuitively. However, after messing with it for a while I was able to turn off all of the filters and get a pretty good image.
    - I was surprised with how much the response time (8 ms I think) bothered me. I play games on my PC with an LCD monitor so I didn't think it would be a problem, but turning the camera in Grand Theft Auto 4 was a little blurry on this TV. It wasn't a big problem though, just a minor annoyance. I was still able to enjoy the game just fine. I didn't notice this issue while watching movies.

    On the plus side, the screen kind of blurs reflections so glare isn't a huge problem, even with lights on behind me.

    I'm very happy with the TV in general. If I were going to buy a TV again, I would reconsider whether LCD is the best choice, but I would still consider this TV.


  2. I have had this TV for two weeks and have had no problems. There is no fan noise, it doesn't get too hot, and it doesn't have clouding when the screen is black. When the screen is in a dark scene it is one of the best blacks I have seen.

    The Picture is so good on this LCD I almost can't quit watching it. Amazon delivered the TV and set it up in 2 minutes, it has been good ever since.


  3. I've had this product for 4 weeks now and it's just amazing. If you enjoy playing games and watching movies a lot, this is definitely for you. The MotionFlow is awesome when watching movies and watching fast-paced sports on HighDef. Its design looks great in every angle and is Perfect for any size room! I have a Sony Theater System that includes only two Front Stand-up Speakers which doesnt give off too much treble, but you can use the tv itself as a center speaker which has crisp quality sound! You won't regret buying this product.


  4. I've had this TV for almost a month now and all I can say is....(in my best Keanu Reeves voice) WHOA!!! The XBR4 is simply amazing. Blu Ray movies look absolutely stunning on this set and the 120Hz make you feel like you are on the set during filming. It's that clear. I wonder how I've survived this long without HD. The TV automatically sets itself to whatever source you are watching. For example, using a standard dvd player will set the TV to NTSC setting. HD channels are set to 1081i and the PS3 is set to display at full 1080P. The upconversions look great on the tv as well. I haven't had any issues with hearing the fan as many have complained about (knock on wood!!). All in all, this is a fantastic set and worth every penny.


  5. I have had this tv for three months and it has worked perfectly. I haven't had any of the problems mentions in other reviews such as fan noise and clouding. The picture is aboslutely stunning when watching a blu-ray movie. The sound from the speakers is good so there is no rush to get a sound system. Free shipping from Amazon made buying it from them the best value...just be proactive and contact CEVA (the delivery company) when it arrives at your local hub to schedule a delivery time instead of waiting for them to call you which may take a couple of extra days.


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Posted in HDTV (Thursday, July 24, 2008)

By Sony. The regular list price is $1,999.99. Sells new for Too low to display.
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Purchase Information
4 comments about Sony Bravia V-Series KDL-46V4100 46-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
  1. I was interested in purchasing the S series 46 inch Sony Bravia, I finally located a store with a display so I could see it before I made my purchase. Thank God I did! This V series was next to the S series so I could do a side-by-side comparison. The V series had significantly better color depths and saturation and just all around better picture.

    The store had an HD movie playing so I could see those differences, but the deciding factor came when the credits rolled up the screen. Every other HDTV on that wall, including Samsung, Sharp, and others had some 'choppiness' while the credits ran. This Sony 46 inch V series was the only one on that wall where the credits were completely smooth as they moved up the screen. That's not to say there aren't other televisions out there that have smooth scrolling, but most don't.

    If you're considering buying the 46S4100, you should be sure to compare the picture to this 46V4100 in person before you do. It was definitely worth an extra few hundred bucks. And since I bought it on Amazon, even with shipping it was a few hundred bucks cheaper than I could have bought it at any electronics store.

    It also has a lot of inputs, several in back and one of each type in the side for easy access. The sound is very decent for TV speakers. I hooked it up to my receiver to use the surround sound, as I'm sure most people will do. But if you have to use the TV speakers these really aren't bad.

    The included TV guide is fine for the network TV, but it will only show a few channels. In my case, it showed the first couple cable channels that are mixed in between network channels so it doesn't even show CBS or FOX listings. Not a big deal since I use my Tivo and it shows the full programming listings.

    Oh yeah, my Sony PS3 games look amazing on this TV. And Blu-ray movies are out of this world! Worth every penny!


  2. First of all, I've done tons of researching before settled with this TV. The brands I've considered are Samsung, Toshiba, Mitsubishi and of course Sony. I'll list the reasons why I end up choosing Sony.

    1. Picture quality. This set has a jaw dropping HD picture quality, and its BE2 engine does an excellent job processing non-HD signals. The highly rated Samsung's A650 also has excellent picture quality, but have to compromise with its reflective screen. Why deal with reflections when you can have a non-reflective screen with just as good pictures?

    2. Sound quality, this is by far the best sounding LCD TV in the crowd I've been researching for. Most people own a theater sound system, so they think this is a non-issue. I own a theater sound system too, but I only turn it on when watching DVDs or play certain games. It is just not as convenient, and power efficient to have just a single TV running. So sound does matter.

    3. TV Guide, nice touch, great for users without a cable box, none of other brands have this feature yet, except maybe Mitsubishi, but not nearly as nice.

    4. PIP and P&P, this feature is available even in composite video and S-video, unlike Samsung, its PIP available only in PC, HDMI and Component inputs. Similar models from Toshiba and Mitsubishi don't even have PIP.

    5. Good Value. Sony 2008's TV line up has significantly priced lower compare with its previous models. The V series represents the best value in its lineup. The S series is cheaper but lacking BE2 video processing, TV Guide, and P&P(Picture and Picture), just to name a few. Move up in the line up you get W series with 120Hz. 120Hz is really more of a hype than anything else. This set is already equipped with motion flow and 24P True Cinema, 120Hz make little to no difference. It does not seem to justify the extra $300+ premium. If you absolutely want this latest technology, go with the W or Z series.

    With all the features you need, and excellent picture quality and sound, you can't possibly go wrong with this Sony set.


  3. For the price offered by AMZN without the shipping cost and tax, this is a very good deal (1599$).

    PROS:
    a) Both the 1080i input and the non-hd (from my dvd player) pictures look great.
    b) Audio sounds a lot better than the other LCD TVs.
    c) Sony's on screen menus are intuitive.
    d) Has a wide viewing angle. Without any glossy reflection(like the samsung 46a650), I can see this one from my kitchen (even on my well lit living room)
    e) Didn't feel the lack of 120Hz (of 46W4100 or the samsung a650 models) on a football highlight on ESPN HD.

    So overall, I am really happy with my purchase.


  4. It's an excellent TV overall... the only negative I see is that if your TV has more than one volume control, you better not turn all the way up on the TV's volume and almost nothing with the other... you will hear some hissing sound from the TV.


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Posted in HDTV (Thursday, July 24, 2008)

By Sony. The regular list price is $2,499.99. Sells new for Too low to display. There are some available for $1,850.00.
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Purchase Information
5 comments about Sony Bravia XBR-Series KDL-40XBR4 40-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
  1. Let's review the thought process from the beginning.

    - Purchased first flat screen was a 37 inch plasma Panasonic Viera 3 years ago: excellent buy.
    - I was sure my next tv would be a plasma Viera as well until I started reading that the black levels of LCD have improved significantly.
    - Checked out the Samsungs (red frame versions) but what caught my eye in a circuit city store was the Bravias with the "motion enhancers" features. The Bravia pictures truly look like it was window or portal through which you can reach through and touch the characters. It was **unbeleivable**.
    - I happened to be driving across the USA at the time and hence, I stopped by 3 more Circuit City or Best Buy stores in different cities. Confirmed that the stunning Bravia picture quality is due to the TV alone (and not due to variation in connection or poor feeds etc etc). In each of the stores, I checked out the equivalent Samsung LCDs and the picture quality was no up to par.
    - Received my Bravia today (amazon delivery was effective) and yes, the picture quality is truly stunning (I am using a HDMI)

    Conclusion: At time zero, the Bravia is a clear win!


    Additional thoughts on impact of Blue Ray:

    - Using the Bravia with a PS3 (40Gb) box as the Blue Ray player. As a test to confirm what all the Blue Ray hyperbole is about, I loaded a rented Blue Ray DVD "3:10 to Yuma" and of course, the picture quality was stunning. I also happen to own the regular DVD version and when I loaded it immediately for comparison, I really cannot see any degradation or significant difference. For both DVDs, the quality is truly great.

    Bottom Line: I don't plan on running out and spending $ to upgrade my existing DVD collection to Blue Rays version. Any new releases specially designed for Blue Ray technology, of course, maybe that is a different story.


  2. I've been a Sony video guy forever. I still own a SLHF-1000 Beta VCR, and this XBR is replacing a 27" Trinitron as my main television (which is still going strong after 12 years, and will for many more, undoubtedly). I finally caved in to the modern era when I found this TV for $1349 at a major big box retailer. Now is the time to buy XBR4 models, as the new XBR 6/7 models are about to be released, and if you can find the XBR4/5 on clearance.

    Although Samsung shares some components and R&D with Sony, it's not just the LCD display you're buying when you buy a Sony. It's the other electronics, firmware and other important aspects, too (and it plays nice with other Sony equipment and remote controls you might have). The Sony picture looks better than any Samsung I've looked at. Sony is simply the King of the LCD TV Hill, just as Pioneer and Panasonic share that reputation on the plasma side. In my opinion, you simply can't do any better.

    Pictures are very good out of the box on Standard video setting; although, "Vivid" is apparently just for the showroom, or for someone who wears sunglasses while watching TV. Audio and stereo separation is very good for in-TV speakers (hence the much wider bezel compared to many lesser sets with skinny speakers on the side, or cheat and place the speakers underneath the screen). A friend's Samsung TV's speakers rattle and distort like a crappy 20 year old RCA, and analog channels looked just horrible; analog pics on the XBR look almost as good as on my tube Trinitron. Buyers of Vizios and other cheap manufacturers are today's VHS 8-hours-on-a-T120 crowd, while the real video aficionados who used to buy Betamax, EDBeta (or maybe SuperVHS) are now enjoying XBR LCD (or Pioneer plasma).

    With the 120 Hertz refresh rate, motion blur is almost unnoticeable. For less blur and quality of picture, you'd need to go to a high-end plasma.

    Concerning the comments of a couple reviewers: I hear no fan noise (and there is a Sony fix for earlier-manufactured sets with that issue). At least, the Sony does not have Samsung's huge problem with TVs turning off by themselves that require a firmware update.

    I highly recommend this TV (or it's big brothers in 46 and 52 inch) highly, especially if you can grab one for a clearance price.


  3. I love this TV. I have a PS3, Wii, XBox 360 Elite and DirectTV connected no problem and getting maximum quality out of each. Blu-Ray anything on this TV will make you drool. It's in a naturally lit room resulting in minimal glare. Viewing angles are impressive. Check for deals, I got it for $1599 and it's been worth every penny!


  4. This is TRULY a TOP of the LINE television from sony in terms of performance. The HDTV is UNREAL. When I first ordered an HD movie on demand I was FLOORED by the 1080P picture. INCREDIBLE. Hooked up Xbox 360 and was amazed at the quality. Incredible TV,


  5. One word to describe this Sony HDTV...AMAZING. The picture quality will be like nothing you've ever seen. The aesthetics of the TV is absolutely gorgeous. The sound is good, but you would be doing yourself an injustice if you didn't get a nice sound system with this TV. I am extremely pleased overall with this TV.

    One minor gripe I have about this TV, however, is the fan noise in the back. I knew about this issue before I bought the TV and it's unnoticeable when you're watching TV since it's just a small buzzing noise. You would really only notice it when shuffling through the inputs when there is absolutely no sound coming from your TV or if you were to put the TV on mute.


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Posted in HDTV (Thursday, July 24, 2008)

By Samsung. The regular list price is $1,299.99. Sells new for Too low to display.
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Purchase Information
5 comments about Samsung HL50A650 50-Inch 1080p Slim DLP HDTV.
  1. Excellent picture quality, very easy to setup, Anynet feature works great with Samsung DVD1080P8 as well as ATT Uverse remote. The picture is so good it beats LCD model. I did my research well and find that the picture on this TV is comparable to Samsung series 6 LCD and just as good as Sony XBR4. The contrast level is very good even in bright room. It does take a few second when you turn it on to reach the full brightness but it doesn't bother me at all. The best thing is the price is about half of LCD of the same size and one third of Sony XBR....you can't beat that. Amazon white glove delivery is great and they call to set up delivery at my convenience and 2 days before schedule...that was excellent.


  2. Then this is perfect, especially if you want to pay less than $1200 (that's right LESS than $1200) for that beautiful picture. If you are ever going to want to wall-mount your TV, then this is NOT for you. I have no such plans so this TV perfect for me. This might just be the perfect TV for you as well.

    I got to watch the "LOST" season finale (Season 4 - on May 29) on this beauty in HD. Absolutely beautiful. This TV was made for shows like that. The 3 women I watched the finale with (who know next to nothing about HDTVs) kept on talking about the quality of the picture. I've also found that it works pretty well on the shows / stations that are not yet broadcast in HD, but let's face it: this TV was meant for HD. HD programming (from Comcast - my cable provider) ranges from "a little better than non-HD" to "breathtakingly beautiful" depending on what you are watching. I've had more than a few "Whoah" moments, both in watching HDTV programming and in watching my DVDs on the Samsung DVD-1080P8 (1080p Upconverting DVD Player). So far I've just gotten to watch Transformers and bits and pieces of the original Star Wars Trilogy (2004 DVD release) and I have just loved it.

    Here is my full set-up:
    Samsung HL50A650 50-inch 1080p Slim DLP HDTV - the product I am reviewing.
    HDMI 2M (6 Feet) Super High Resolution Cable - currently my only connections to the TV - very inexpensive/cheap through Amazon!
    Samsung DVD-1080P8 1080p Upconverting DVD Player - hooked up to the TV with one HDMI cable.
    Comcast HD (local cable provider - not through Amazon) - plugged in, coaxial cable from wall to box, one HDMI cable from box to TV.
    Prepac BPS-6000 - TV stand for up to 60" TVs - my girlfriend bought this, but not through Amazon.

    Observations / POINTERS / WARNINGS:
    - Don't forget to get an HD BOX from your cable / satellite company. Just because you already have a Cable/Satellite Box doesn't mean that the box is capable of broadcasting an HDTV signal. It may cost a little extra (over your existing cable/satellite bill - in our case, around $7 extra each month) to get HD programming.
    - Don't forget to CALL your cable company to get that HD box ACTIVATED. Just because you already have a subscription (or an older box) doesn't mean that just "plugging" in the new box will make it work.
    - It may take time for the new programming to load up to your Cable box, so make sure call and get it activated AT LEAST an hour before the show that you want to watch.
    - You may want to get a TV stand that is at least 20" high (many start at lower than this). Many people (including I) like to watch their HDTV a little bit higher up, to get more of the "movie theater" feel and to still appreciate optimal viewing when they're standing up (not sitting on their comfy couches). The Prepac BPS-6000 starts at 26" high, which suits me just fine!
    - On the remote: The "Source" button is probably necessary (at least initially), The E-mode button is cool, but I just LOVE the P-size button / function. You may too! The P-size button gives you the option to slightly "stretch" non-HD 4:3 programming to fit your 16:9 ratio screen. It does the same for your standard 2.35:1 movie programming (removing letterbox and "stretching" the picture out). You may or may not like this option. If you do use it, make sure to go back to the 16:9 setting before watching HD programming!
    - My two very MINOR annoyances with the TV: 1) When the room is pitch black (other than the TV), I sometimes noticed some light from the back of the TV. I usually am too distracted by what's actually on the TV to notice. 2) When the room is very dark, the picture may actually be too bright for you (at the standard setting). You can easily play around with the "E-mode" or other settings.

    That's it. Enjoy your new HDTV!


  3. It's my first hd tv and I have to tell you that it rocks. It's definately worth the money to go out and get one.


  4. TV looks so shape in 720P even sharper in 1080I 60 fps. 1080P 90 FPS should look even better.

    I hooked my old computer up to the TV and watched the A team off netflex with it.
    I listen in 5.1 sound that comes with HD Brardcast!!!


  5. This is my first HDTV. I chose this for the long LED life, no color wheel, and basically great bang for the buck. The dimensions are accurate and it fit perfect into our armoire. The sound is great even though it's completely enclosed in the armoire, but we had to experiment with the different audio settings. I believe we settled on "gaming". There is a small text streaking effect, it's hard to describe. It's really only visible with white text on a black background. Samsung provides a 1 year in home warranty with this TV and a technician will be out in a couple of days to help diagnose the problem or replace the set. I cannot tell you how awesome this is. Buy a TV online, encounter problem, technician arrives to home as part of standard Samsung warranty. If you are like me, buying a TV like this online might be a little nerve wracking, but rest assured Electronics Expo and Samsung will take care of you. I wasn't even on hold at the retailer or the manufacturer for more than 30seconds on a Saturday to receive this kind of service, and no transferring me around... Awesome. when watching the TV you have a lot of ways to adjust the picture. After getting the contrast and brightness set the picture quality is great, exactly what I expected. DVDs up converted to 1080P from the Samsung 1080P DVD player look really good. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this item or the retailer to anyone. The screen is plenty bright, but we typically watch this TV at night, so I cannot comment on viewing in a brightly lit room or on any glare problems. But in our situation we have not seen any. Cheers.


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Posted in HDTV (Thursday, July 24, 2008)

By Samsung. The regular list price is $1,799.99. Sells new for Too low to display. There are some available for $1,005.78.
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Purchase Information
5 comments about Samsung LNT4069FX 40-inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV.
  1. The TV is fantastic. The matte screen is perfect for our living room that is surrounded by windows and has a lot of natural sunlight. The inputs are all there, and the sound is actually very good, despite what other reviewers might say.

    The massive problem is that Amazon insists on using poor companies to deliver the goods, and the TV arrived damaged. It is cosmetically damaged on the front of the TV, and the button area seems to have been "rubbed off". The TV was shipped to far West Texas, so the idea of having it replaced is just a nightmare, to be honest with you, so we're living with it.

    All in all, everything would be great if Amazon offered more shipping options so that I wouldn't have to use third-rate shippers like UPS or unknown cartage companies.

    TV: A-
    Amazon: D-


  2. After months of research, chose this HDTV. So thrilled with it, I ordered one for my brother.


  3. This TV delivers the picture quality promised and recommended by Consumer Reports. Packaging was great and set up was easy. They don't come any better than this.


  4. Received the Samsung 40" 4069 and have been enjoying it ever since. Easy to set up, great picture - depth, contrast, deep blacks, crisp. For the price really good value.


  5. I did a lot of research before buying this TV . . .consumer reports, reading blogs, going to various stores, "interviewing" friends. That is how I landed on a Samsung as a no brainer choice - the picture is amazing and the design is sleek.

    I am very happy with the TV. I read on a blog that there was concern about the volume the TV can go up to . . . I have noticed that the indeed TV doesn't seem to get as loud as I would expect (it is plenty loud for when you are sitting in front of it, I just like to turn the TV up sometimes and continue to listen to it while in the shower with the bathroom door open), however I have to admitt I have not tried to mess around with the volume on my cable box to see if that setup is the culprit.

    Overall, I have zero regrets of my purchase!


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Posted in HDTV (Thursday, July 24, 2008)

By Philips. The regular list price is $1,249.99. Sells new for Too low to display.
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Purchase Information
5 comments about Philips 42PFL5603D/27 42-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
  1. This tv is amazing, it picked up my HD channels right away and the picture quality is very impressive! We've been watching so many movies and it's been such a treat. The sound on the TV isn't all that bad either, it was a big improvement compared to our older CRT tv... but for movies we have sound coming from a receiver/theater speakers.

    I connected my killowatt meter to measure the consumption in power saving mode and sure enough, it consumes between 65watts to 75watts. I looked at CNET's charts that compared power consumption and this beat all other LCD's and Plasma's by a HUGE margin in power consumption (even screens that are much smaller than this). I didn't notice the picture quality go down w/ the power saving mode, it just got slightly dimmer.

    The video processing features are nice too, though I disabled the natural motion option (it made movies have a weird appearance to me, kind of like a reality show... hard to describe).

    I definitely would recommend this 42PFL5603D LCD TV.

    Here's the average power consumption details that I tested for each TV mode (mine is usually set to Power Save):
    Power Saving Mode = 72 watts
    Sports = 227 watts
    Standard = 140 watts
    Movie = 140 watts
    Game = 210 watts


  2. Everyone that I know has a samsung, so I wasn't sure about this product. I finally decided to buy it and I don't regret it at all. The TV looks great with the plastic frame and sounds even better. For the price I think it is the best TV out there. It has a lot of different features that most TV's don't have. Overall you will not be disappointed in your decision to buy this awsome TV.


  3. I have never taken time to write a review before, but after getting this TV I had to. I have shopped TVs for 2 months before buying this and I'm glad I did. The picture is amazing. I hooked it up to my digital cable box that is not HDTV and thought Wow great picture, but when I played a DVD on my 1080 upconvert player through HDMI I was speechless. Its like looking trough a window. The sound is good from TV but through a tuner its incredible. As a matter of fact I just ordered a new 7.1 tuner to really do it justice. In my opinion it is a great TV at a great price. And with a name like Philips you know it is a quality product with outstanding support. Several years ago I had a Philips TV stop working after only 2 months. I called the 800 number and they had it picked up the next day. As it turned out, even though it was hit by lightning, they covered parts and labor 100% - even overnighted parts and I had the set back in 3 days. Made a believer out of me - (also taught me to make sure surge suppressors are properly grounded). 18 years later and the repaired set still works - my nephew has it in his dorm room.

    TV was delivered a day earlier than their shipping estimate. Amazon Delivery driver called 3 times to schedule delivery and to let me know where he was so I didn't have to hang around all day waiting. He was very courteous and helpfull, unpacked TV and helped me hook up cables Etc. I will not hesitate to buy anything from Amazon ever again.


  4. We did a bunch of research before buying this TV, and to be honest, the eco-tv power-saving features were the factor that closed the deal for us. I figured that we'd trade a little picture quality for the savings in power, but that it would be worth it in the end.

    I was wrong! The picture quality is terrific, even with the power-saving mode turned on. The main difference is that without the power-saving mode on, the set is extremely bright. With the power-saving mode on, the set has a normal brightness level. As far as I can tell, the power-saving picture is at least as good as the regular picture on any similarly priced LCD that I was able to see.

    I use the set for gaming (xbox 360), and have been very pleased with the performance so far. I haven't used the speakers, so I can't comment on them.

    The pricing seemed very reasonable to me, and the TV works great. Save money, great picture, help the planet-- why not? I'd buy it again in an instant.


  5. After reading just about every online review of this television I could find, I decided to pull the trigger on it. I was a little hesitant as I found a couple reviews claiming that this television had a couple weaknesses. One being that it couldn't produce a good black (common with cheaper LCD TVs) and two was that the sound wasn't very good (most use surround with a flat screen anyways). Well, upon receipt from Amazon and shipped with CEVA, the television looked amazing. Great shipping, got here fast and free, and in great shape. I got it all set up and calibrated and started watching some HD!!!

    First impressions... WOW!!!!!! 42" feels a lot bigger for some reason than the 40" LCD I am used to, feels like a lot more than a 2" difference. I am not sure how much more black the blacks could get without going plasma. I haven't ever seen an LCD produce blacks like this. Granted, not quite as good as Plasma, but that is expected. Still WAY better than on my friend's 40" 1080p of a VERY popular brand that shall remain nameless. (Rhymes with Bamsung ;) ) Colors are very true, contrast is great, wide angle of view and great crisp, sharp image. We watched "National Treasure 2" on HD and it felt like everything was in the living room. Absolutely incredible.

    The "Powersave" mode is cool in that it doesn't use much power, but I leave mine on Personal and it still sucks way less juice than the 40" at my buddy's house. If you are Eco minded, this is the TV for you. We were willing to sacrifice a little image quality to go this route. Now not only are we saving energy and using a TV with no harmful metals and some recycled plastics, but we feel like we got a better image than the other TVs we looked at. All the other modes are very applicable to what you are watching. "Sports" is great for sports, "Movies" is great for movies, etc... You can go into the menu and the set will even show you how much power the TV is using with the selected options!

    As for the sound, I know most people use surround for their HDTV. But I am using the TVs speaker system and it really is impressive. The best "On board" TV speakers I have ever owned for sure. And the user interface is very intuitive. Press "Menu" and navigate to the section you wish to make changes to. The "Setup Assistant" was very cool too. This helps you calibrate your image to your taste. It feels like an eye exam because they split the screen and ask you which image looks better. Highlight that side and press "Select" on several pictures and it adjusts itself for you!!!

    I would highly recommend this TV to anyone looking for a 1080p LCD TV period. It has the best image quality of all the comparable models we looked at bar-none, great sound, is relatively attractive (for being a TV), and is very easy to use. If you are an Environmentalist, or just trying to conserve, then that should seal the deal. It was also a great experience buying through Amazon with the free shipping as the TV arrived three days before "Estimated Delivery." CEVA called to set up a delivery appointment and the driver unloaded it right on time. All-in-all an excellent buying experience and I would do it again with the same TV, vendor, and shipper in a heart beat!!!!


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Posted in HDTV (Thursday, July 24, 2008)

By Sony. The regular list price is $4,299.99. Sells new for Too low to display.
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Purchase Information
5 comments about Sony Bravia XBR-Series KDL-52XBR5 52-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
  1. After almost a year of doing research on all 52 inch LCD's, my wife and I finally took the plunge and bought the XBR5. We already had a Samsung 32 inch HI DEF with great picture quality, and, the Samsung 71 and 81F's were in the running; but, as with a good portion of reviewers on Amazon, we, too, found the glare of the Samsungs a big negative. We checked out both the XBR5 and the 71F side by side at a closeby TV warehouse, and glare issues on the SAMMY finally eliminated it from the list. True, the Samsung's picture was stunning, but the screen picked up just about every available light source in the store and threw it back out at the viewer. It's too bad Samsung is so set on the glass. It really is a huge problem.

    Now, onto the SONY XBR5. The side speakers are more than adequate for the average viewer; however, if you're an audiophile, a good sound system would be recommended down the road after the TV is paid off. I was pleasantly surprised, though, with the quality of the internal speakers.

    The picture on this TV is outstanding; superb, actually. After spending some time with the video settings, I found that the VIVID mode was the absolute best for our viewing, as long as the color was also backed down to about 70 percent, the brightness to about 30 percent and contrast to 60 percent or so. The tint was fine at the 0 level. It's truly amazing that a screen of this size shows virtually NO pixels at a normal viewing distance. The video in HI DEF looks as crisp and clean as a movie screen. The standard analog programming just pales in comparison. We found it a bit "fuzzy", but with a screen this size, it's to be expected. To really appreciate this TV, one MUST have a HI DEF cable box or go satellite. I couldn't say how over the air HD looks, since we have cable.

    We are extremely happy with our purchase. The 120hz motion settings come in OFF, STANDARD and HIGH. I've found STANDARD is probably best for sports programming. It does an adequate job.

    As for looks, the glass around the screen with chrome stripping is a nice touch. It sets the look off with an "upscale" design, befitting the quality of the TV.

    We would highly recommend this model to anyone wanting a beautiful, perfect 52 inch HI DEF. The blacks are very black, the colors are incredible, the lines and clarity in HI DEF are just breathtaking. It's expensive, but, if it's the main TV in any household and gets watched every day, it's worth the extra money. SONY'S attention to LCD exclusively now, having dropped Plasma a few years back, shows in the extreme brilliance and unbelievable perfection of the picture. Get this one! It's the best LCD 52 inch on the market.

    One caveat, SONY recently announced that they're discontinuing their association with Samsung and going with Sharp, possibly as soon as April. Sharp has been known for banding issues and problems with uniformity in their LCD screens, so, unless they've worked out the problems, it might be a good idea to grab one of these sets while they still have Samsung blood running through them. For my money, Samsung and SONY are neck and neck as far as LCD technology.


  2. With many choices in HDTV, the Sony is geared toward those who don't want to compromise. As the owner of two HDTVs, I put off replacing my primary TV until I could find one that would be good enough to last a while and would not be a compromise.

    Sony has done an excellent job of producing a product that allows me to achieve that goal. But they met that goal in a limited fashion.

    HDTVs took a while to mature. Standards changed, LCDs improved, and more choices in resolution became available. This is not my first 1080p, but it does give the best picture of any set I've used. The picture is clear and sharp, the TV does a good job of video processing and does not compromise the way other TVs do with many sources.

    The problem I have is that a good picture alone is not enough. I wanted something that integrates well into my home, allows for good sound, and allows easy connections to other components. In that respect, Sony missed the mark.

    The sound quality is not bad. I didn't expect great sound from the built in speakers, and realistically, people who buy this are likely to have a home theater system anyway. But the built in sound is adequate as far as built in sound goes.

    The problem is getting to to other equipment. Sony provides an optical out that sends Dolby Digital/PCM to your home theater system. But although it works great when sending sound from the tuner, it sends only the PCM component when the source is HDMI. Yes, there are ways around that, such as extra cables or different wiring, but for $4,300 is it really asking for too much for this thing to work as many users expect? It's not as if I'm asking for a built in home theater system. I'm just asking for a jack that works in a useful way, as other manufacturers already provide.

    I could get around the problem by using the digital out directly from my DVD player instead. My Sony DVD player from last year had two digital audio outputs. One was coax and the other was optical. Sony's DVP-NS77H DVD player now sells for $89.99, up converts to 1080p, and even it has two digital audio outputs. Why did they leave the coax output off the $4300 HDTV? If they could afford it on this year's low end HDMI DVD player, it's not as if it would have been a bank breaker.

    With a missing output on this TV, I can either get a new AV preamp, or run more cables. But should I have to do that with such an expensive TV? And if I did get a new AV preamp, would the Sony make good use of it?

    Not Quite. The TV is also missing a video output. Many home theater systems can make use of one for monitoring, and it would also have allowed me to use my VCR to record, since the VCR has no digital tuner.

    Was it left out because VCRs are supposedly obsolete, or was it left out because the TV is considered too low end to have the features expected by a high end AV preamp? Either way, the circuitry involved is a mere fraction of what's already on their cheapest DVD players: something to take a digital signal, and output it to HDMI, S-VHS, component video, and composite. I'd settle for even one of them if I hadn't already settled for less.

    Sony still sells things such as PS2 video consoles. Indeed many game manufacturers sell things with composite-only video outputs. Yet this TV, while able to accept three HDMI inputs, can accept only one S-VHS input, and none on the side connector. If you use the rear S-VHS connector for a VCR, that leaves one composite input, plus one on the side. And if I want to use the S-VHS connector for my relatively recent vintage Sony camcorder, I'd have to get behind my wall mounted TV to unplug the VCR each time. And since Sony camcorders have a special connector, the cable can't be shared as an alternative.

    My kids got a Wii recently. It's neither Sony nor obsolete equipment. But it does have composite outputs. I don't think it's asking for too much to be able to use things like that or my relatively new Sony camcorder without juggling wires. I think for something as expensive as this TV, it's not asking for too much for it to be able to handle basic connectivity with commonly used household AV equipment. It's not asking too much for it to have things that they are willing to put on even the cheapest DVD players.

    With equipment that it was designed to work with, it does a great job. It's nice to be able to press "play" on my Sony DVD player, have it turn on, have it turn on the TV, switch its input to DVD, and just work. It's also nice that it will turn off my DVD player if I turn off the TV. And perhaps if I had an all Sony AV system, that would integrate well too. But it's arrogant to think that customers should use only Sony equipment.

    The remote control is adequate, but they could have done a better job of allowing it to integrate with other components. Even with their own DVD player, the TV remote has ALMOST all the buttons I would need. And it requires pressing a button to let the remote know if I am intending the next button presses to be for the DVD or the TV. That's to be expected in some cases, but in situations where it's unambiguous, it should figure it out for me.

    Prior to buying this, I came close to getting a Samsung. The Samsung has a very impressive picture quality and I probably would not have felt short changed. The Samsung has a glossy screen surface, which can be a problem in certain living conditions, and I've had that issue with an older Pioneer Elite. I would not have considered that last point to be a show stopper, and the Samsungs still give you more on a dollar for dollar basis. But I'd still give the edge to the Sony for picture quality.

    The deciding factor for me, though, was Sony's manufacturing quality. If something goes wrong with this set, I feel comfortable that Sony will stand behind me. With the Samsung, if I were among the unfortunate few who have problems, I'd be cursing myself for buying it. I might have spent more for the Sony, and will have to spend even more for the overall system to do everything I want, but I did get a good HDTV. I just can't give it 5 stars given the features for the price.


  3. Pros: Easy to use and an excellent picture quality. Impressive look.
    Cons: Above average in price but it is worth it if you enjoy viewing movies and HD programming.

    I recommend the product without hesitation.


  4. After many months of careful product research and price comparisons I finally opted to go HD. Truthfully, I had second thoughts about getting rid of "ole faithful"-a 1999 36" Toshiba, which has not required one bit of maintenance nor experienced any downtime whatsoever since I've owned it. Nevertheless, the time came to jump ship from SD to HD, especially since I subscribe to most of the sports packages DirecTv has to offer.I chose correctly. The Sony 52" Bravia is a magnificant package-somewhat more pricey than their competitors-but certainly worth it. Outstanding picture quality and a very easy remote to navigate. Instead of mounting on the wall I chose instead to place "the monster" on a solid cherry finish console TV/components table manufactured by Hooker Co.It warmed the family room immeasurably and looks like it truly belongs. DirecTv quickly and accurately changed out the dish and receiver, and Firedog completed the install with my Sony surround system and combination VCR/DVD player.Trust me when I say you won't go wrong with the 52" Sony Bravia purchase.


  5. Dear All,

    I would appreciate if you can help me identify what kind of AC power this TV requires. All you have to do is look at the back side and see if it says AC 110/220 volt 50/60 Hz or AC 110 volt 60 Hz only ( the 110 volt is for US use only) the reason I'm asking is that am planning to ship it outside the US and I need it to be 220 volt.

    Thank you


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Sony Bravia XBR-Series KDL-37XBR6 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Samsung LN19A330 19-Inch 720p LCD HDTV, Black
Toshiba 26AV500U 26-Inch 720p LCD HDTV
Sony Bravia XBR-Series KDL-46XBR4 46-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Sony Bravia V-Series KDL-46V4100 46-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Sony Bravia XBR-Series KDL-40XBR4 40-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Samsung HL50A650 50-Inch 1080p Slim DLP HDTV
Samsung LNT4069FX 40-inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV
Philips 42PFL5603D/27 42-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Sony Bravia XBR-Series KDL-52XBR5 52-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV

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Last updated: Thu Jul 24 15:34:03 EDT 2008