วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 17 พฤศจิกายน พ.ศ. 2554

LG Infinia 47LV5500 47-Inch 1080p 120Hz LED-LCD HDTV with Smart TV

The image is nice and sharp (and not overly sharp). Browse the internet review sites to find some values for setting image parameters up for best image quality (or at least a starting point). The "Cinema" mode isn't bad if you turn off the auto back light (this feature turns the back light off for dark scenes, but it is noticeable on this TV model as it is a global back light. The more expensive models have a localized back lights that might be less noticeable.

Sony BRAVIA KDL46HX820 46-Inch 1080p 3D LED HDTV with Built-In Wi-Fi Black

Sony BRAVIA KDL55EX720 55-Inch 1080p 3D LED HDTV Black

I was looking for a 32 inch TV to fit in a cabinet I had made for the living room. Most TVs in this size are pretty basic and was looking for something a little more high tech. This model of Sony fit the bill perfectly. The styling of the TV is really nice with a glossy black bezel all around and without the funny grey band on the bottom of the lesser 32s Sony sells. The screen is more of a matte look and is great in eliminating glare from nearby windows. I purchased the set primarily for the Internet streaming and so far this works great. I was disappointed that I had to buy the wifi adapter for wireless streaming but it works really well. If your lucky to have your internet close to the TV you can plug the ethernet cord directly to the TV. I have kind of a lousy internet provider but it didn't seem to effect the streaming to the TV. The TV found my home network quickly and connected easily. There was a software update and it did this quickly also. There are a number of internet sites that come up on the menu including Netfix, Hulu, You Tube ,Crackle, Amazon instant movies, Qriosity (Sony library) etc. Qriosity has hundreds of movies available including 3D movies. They are not free however and charge anywhere from $3-$6 depending on if you want Standard Def, High Def or 3D. You can watch the previews for free, however, which I did for several hours. The need for a blue ray player is questionable as there is so much content available through these internet sites. The remote has no keyboard so a lot of scrolling around for is required for doing searches on You Tube, kind of a pain. I have not tried the 3D feature yet so cannot comment on this. The picture is beautiful out of the box and required very little adjustment by me to make it perfect. The speakers, like most LED TVs are really bad and a sound bar or external speakers are a must. The TV satisfied most of the requirements I had and at a price that was quite reasonable.

Sharp LC40LE830U Quattron 40-inch 1080p 120 Hz LED-LCD HDTV Black

Reviews play a big part in any television purchase and since I relied heavily on them, it only made sense for me to provide a good review that could help others. Overall, once this TV is setup correctly and all calibration and adjustments are made, it is by far one of the best TVs out there in terms of picture quality, clarify and accuracy. The out of box setting is acceptable but will feel like you are at a big box electronics store. There are a few calibration settings out in various forums so just search for them, try them all and choose your pick. There is some clouding especially when displaying blacks but nothing that will stand out during a normal movie. It is not distracting enough to take your attention away from any movie. Overall blacks are great. TV is loaded with features and options starting from full calibration settings to internet apps galore. One big con is that the navigation menu/software is far from superior. In fact, it can be downright horrible at times. You will get used to it but it could be better. Internet WI-FI built in is great but getting a good signal is not the best. I ended up using a wired connection with a wireless repeater. The TV tuner is borderline. It takes a few seconds to switch between channels regardless of advancing channels or punching in the channel numbers. Like other reviewers said, do not count of advancing channels, just punch in the actual channel you are looking for. Finally, this LED TV is the best value out there. For the price, you cannot go wrong. It is clearly about $200 cheaper than the competition and Sharp makes their own LCD panels. Here are a few calibrations from various sources. I do not take credit for these calibrations.

Samsung LN40D550 40-Inch 1080p 60Hz LCD HDTV (Black)

For the last year I've been looking for a TV to replace my 2009 Samsung 26" LCD. It had what some people call "smudging" or "smearing" where if two really dark images move near one another, the black area would leave a trail. It looks sort of like when you make a dark circle with a pencil and run your finger over it. It made night scenes in movies and games really distracting. I even saw it in people with black hair watching 720p Lost episodes.

From what I can tell so far, this set has none of it. I went through a Sony, a Toshiba, an LG, and another Samsung. All but the LG had this issue, and the LG had atrocious black levels due to it being a technically "better" IPS panel. I love my LG IPS monitors, but for TV it looks awful. So I stuck with Samsung's PVA panels, and boy am I glad I did.

I immediately turned off all the video processing options and turned the backlight down from 14 to 8. IMPECCABLE picture as far as I'm concerned. Looks incredible even at 1080i. It's no plasma, but hey, 32-inch plasmas don't exist, so I'm content with LCD.

I have no idea how the input lag is for video games since I play relatively slowly paced games. No fighters, competitive FPS, or other twitch reflex games in my library. I'd be a bit leery if that's super critical for you until more accurate tests are out there. It seems fine to me, but I'm not very sensitive to lag, so take it with a grain of salt.

Bottom line, great picture quality, great black levels (for an LCD), decent motion handling (it IS only 60Hz), lots of options to mess with, plenty of inputs, a sleek design. I would buy this TV again in a heartbeat, personally. As the first reviewer said, JUST what I was looking for. :-)

Toshiba 32SLV411U 32-Inch 720p LED-LCD HDTV with Built-in DVD Player Black

I purchased this TV to replace an old Toshiba 26" DVD/VCR combo in the bedroom. The 32" flat screen is just the right size for viewing from bed and the HD picture is very clear (even non-HD channels aren't bad). The only downside to the picture is viewing it from a side angle as the color and clarity are best when viewed from the front. The sound quality is also good; and working the remote and navigating the on-screen menus are easy. Like others, I enjoy having the DVD built in so there's no additional equipment. The DVD function works well and the slot on the side provides easy disc insertion and ejection. The TV has a nice, clean stylish look and I recommend it for those interested in a TV for bedrooms, dens, or workout rooms. I was impressed with Amazon's price, partnership with American Express's Rewards, and delivery. Purchasing was very easy using my Reward points and I received fast, free shipping in two days. Setup was quick and easy; and although I haven't tried everything this TV can do, so far I'm very pleased with it.

Sony BRAVIA KDL55HX820 55-Inch 1080p 3D LED HDTV with Built-In Wi-Fi Black

Sony BRAVIA KDL55HX820 55-Inch 1080p 3D LED HDTV with Built-In Wi-Fi Black review

Mine arrived this week and it is beautiful! The monolithic screen design with the Gorilla glass / Opticontrast panel is totally black when the set is off. When it is on, the image is stunning. Pair this with a nice Blu-Ray player and it will knock your socks off. It's bright and clear with great colors and the blackest blacks I've seen on a TV. The MotionFlow 480 makes for extremely smooth motion with no snapshotting that you see in sets with lower frame rates. It's also very light. One person can pick it up with no problem as long as your arms are long enough to reach.

It comes with a nice pillar and plate stand but I think I'm going to move mine to the wall. I'm really tempted to put a nice frame around it. Seriously. Another very nice feature is you can turn off the light behind the Sony logo at the bottom center of the screen. It's visible enough for me as is and I personally don't like all the extra lights that so many sets use to light up their logos. So nice and subdued it is. The set also locates where people are in the room. It has a camera (not sure how I feel about that on an internet-connected TV) and captures full-on images of you as you watch it. It uses this for adjusting the internal speakers, the 3D effect if you are off center, and to determine if nobody is watching to turn the set off to conserve energy. I might just put a bit of black tape over it and turn off the energy conservation so it doesn't always think it is alone and shut down.

This thing also synthesizes 3D from 2D images. You can watch regular TV or DVD's/Blu-Ray, or any of the streaming functions in 3D if you want. It actually does a pretty good job and for the life of me I couldn't tell you how they pull it off. It's basically magic. For true 3D input it is absolutely amazing. You also have the ability to adjust the apparent depth to the 3D effect.

I looked at other 3D sets and the images on the Sony don't pop out into the room like some of the others. (Edit - this is a setting and you can bring images out into the room.) It's almost like you are looking into the 3D scene as opposed to having it come out into the room (on the default settings). I think looking into the 3D scene is a bit more natural though not as startling or stunning as having things look like they are basically in your lap. That has lots of wow factor but seems more gimmicky and less realistic. There are a number of adjustments for the 3D image and it's possible the Sony will push them out into the room too. (It can.)

One other thing about the 3D effect - the Sony uses active glasses to produce 3D. Most others do too but one manufacturer does not - LG. Their 3D uses circularly polarized glasses just like the ones at the theater with the RealD 3D. Those are cheaper, lighter, and you can even turn your head sideways and still see the image perfectly. I liked the Sony's features better than the LG which is why I went Sony. One was that the set with the plain polarized glasses is only 120 Hz while the Sony is 480. On the Sony with active glasses, and again most others, if you lay down where your head is 90 degrees from vertical, the images go dark. It's surprisingly tolerant of head tilt, though, and stays bright until you are just about horizontal. This will also be a function of the glasses and I did not use Sony glasses. I used Xpand Universal X103 3D Glasses Compatible with Active 3D TV's, Black.

Other points - the unit is very well packed but the shipping box is almost as thin (6") as the set itself (1.1"). As far as shock damage if you have this unit shipped, I doubt there will be much of a problem unless the shipper is extremely careless. Something sticking through the box is going to stand a good chance of hitting the screen or the back of the unit though the cardboard box itself has very thick walls. Even the box was is great shape and the TV was perfect.

This unit was definitely worth waiting for. Also, if you buy this from Amazon, you get a 2 week price guarantee. (Note - Amazon can change the guarantees at any time. Be sure to know the conditions and details when you buy yours.) The day before mine was to be delivered, Amazon dropped the price. I just notified Amazon and the refunded the difference. Nice. You also get a 30 day shipping-paid return if you decide you don't like the set. I'll only use that if something fails. This set is worth the price.

Also, I am always leery of buying LCD screen items if returns are going to be a hassle if there are stuck or dead pixels. None of either on my set. I'm exceptionally happy about that! But had there been, Amazon's return policy is better than the local stores' policies. I've got 30 days for something like that to develop (always possible) to make sure I've got a good set. It's hard to beat that.

At least in my case, Amazon shipped using CEVA. I had not heard of them before and was a bit nervous watching the CEVA tracking page. I don't know what they are doing there, but it doesn't seem to have any basis in reality. It showed the TV going around the country in a big circle basically and finally arrived right back where it started. I thought for sure they would blow the promised delivery date. Amazingly, a few hours after tracking showed it arriving back at origin, I got a call from the local shipper to arrange delivery and it actually arrived a day early. Nice. But just a heads-up if you buy one and it ships CEVA. Something is very odd about their tracking page and it is basically worthless IMHO.

I gambled on buying this through Amazon since they aren't local to go see someone in person if it had been necessary and there was the risk of shipping damage. Neither was an issue. Not only did I get price protection (I waited through one price drop but a 2nd one came within days of ordering so price protection is nice), but there was no damage whatsoever and I didn't have to get someone with a truck to help me pick it up at the store. I just helped the delivery guy carry it from his truck to my living room.

The set itself is everything I had thought it would be and more. I had seen other Opticontrast panels before but it is absolutely stunning in my living room. As some apparently say about these sets, it does look more real than real.

Sony BRAVIA XBR55HX929 55-Inch 1080p 3D Local-Dimming LED HDTV with Built-In Wi-Fi Black

The HX929 series pairs uncompromising technology, simple connectivity, and elegant design, earning its spot at the top of Sony's 3D HDTV lineup. Enjoy brilliant Full HD picture quality for both 2D and 3D programming, and a new level of precision and detail with Intelligent Peak LED full-array backlighting with local dimming. Sony's X-Reality PRO video processing delivers optimal color, contrast and sharpness--even with low-resolution web videos. Speaking of web videos, built-in Wi-Fi gives you connected entertainment options galore thanks Sony's BRAVIA Internet Video and Widgets. Or play back your digital video, music, and photo files right over your home network from DLNA certified devices. Whatever your entertainment preference, the XBR-55HX929 will deliver in spades--the best of the best.

Sony BRAVIA XBR55HX929 55-Inch 1080p 3D Local-Dimming LED HDTV with Built-In Wi-Fi Black review

It's hard to still be amazed after spending almost $3000 on a TV, but this television still has me just as impressed with it as much the first time I fired it up. I had been on the verge of buying a new 3D since Dec. 2010, almost snagging a Samsung UN46C7000 from Amazon for a sweet price the day before Chirstmas... Fortunately, I waited. I did as much research I could do through forums and local electronic stores, but it is impossible to get a true sense of a TV's capabilities without running your own content on them, so I really took a chance on Sony's flagship to deliver more than the competition and enough to justify the price tag. My first experience with the TV, after the general start-up settings of course, was throwing on the Legend of the Guardians 3D blu-ray. This is not only the best 3D experience I have had so far, but the single greatest movie experience I have ever had. Although the film itself has it's flaws, the level of detail and the fluidity of the 3D motion was breathtaking! It is the movie I show my buddies to show off what my TV and 3D itself is truly capable of. I have seen first generation Samsung 3D TV's in relative's houses and noticed a good deal of ghosting, something that I did not see the current generation fixing either, but this is virtually nonexistent on the Hx929. Blooming is an issue many have been having with Sony LED's for some time now, but I have not personally experienced this even though I watch it from off angles frequently. Another concern that has been put to rest was the response delay when playing video games. Gran Turismo 5, Crisis 2, and Killzone 3 all looked absolutely stunning, and no noticable delay or blurring even outside of "Game Mode." I spent a couple hours fidling with with display settings that other owners and CNET have posted, but have found that I enjoy the preset settings "Standard" and "Vivid" the most. As far as pure picture quality goes, this is leaps and bounds better than my 2 year old Samsung plasma it replaced, and still offers more clarity and deeper blacks than the rest of the 2011 LED lineup. I have not used any of the internet browser or "widgets," but my PS3 can run most, if not all, that the TV can offer with an easier to navigate XMB. I can't vouch for the TV's built-in sound either, but I assume that they are underwhelming like most TV speakers these days. Anyone investing this much money into their home theater should pick up a decent sound bar at least. I have a Pioneer VSX-1020-K receiver with Sony front, side, and rear speakers (These are an incredible value!), and the whole package makes me miss my room whenever I am at the movie theater. Overall, if you are looking for the absolute best in HD/3D picture quality and are less concerned about the price at checkout, this is the best manufacturers have to offer. If you are looking for a good picture at a bargain price, the Samsung UND7000 or 8000 are probably more suitable. For myself, I was already going to spend about $2000 on a new TV, spending a few hundred more for the best available made more sense and I am happy that I did.

วันจันทร์ที่ 14 พฤศจิกายน พ.ศ. 2554

LG 32LK450 32-Inch 1080p 60Hz LCD VA Panel HDTV

I wanted an inexpensive TV for the bedroom and the LG 450 is a good choice, the picture quality is very good for it's price. I didn't need 120Hz so I saved $150 by buying the 60Hz model. All LG TV's have Expert ISF Settings so you can have it professionally calibrated or do it yourself, it even has a built-in blue filter. The ATSC tuner is very powerful because I get all the local stations OTA with an indoor antenna. This model is not internet enabled so you need a set top box to get Netflix, etc. A word of caution though: when I got it home and calibrated the picture it still didn't look great, it takes about 12 hours of viewing for the display to "break-in". After watching the TV for a few days now the picture has improved dramatically. As with all TV's the sound isn't great but it does have bass and treble controls. The USB port supports: JPG, MP3, MPG, WMV, MP4. The manual states other video formats are supported but they wouldn't work on my TV.

I and most experts recommend these basic settings(YMMV):
1. Turn off Dynamic Contrast.
2. Turn off Auto Energy Saving.
3. Turn on Real Cinema, if your Blu-ray player supports 24p then turn that on as well.
4. Select Just Scan.
5. In Sound Modes select Music or Cinema.

วันอาทิตย์ที่ 6 พฤศจิกายน พ.ศ. 2554

VIZIO XVT3D474SV 47-Inch Full HD 3D Full Array TruLED LCD HDTV 480 Hz SPS with VIZIO Internet Apps

VIZIO XVT3D474SV 47-Inch Full HD 3D Full Array TruLED LCD HDTV 480 Hz SPS with VIZIO Internet Apps review

Ok so I been in the market for a new tv for a couple weeks now and upgraded from a 32" flat screen to this beautiful 47". I am very happy with this purchase and also the 3D glasses. I bought a Panasonic 42" a few days before this to try it out because it was a little cheaper, and this 47 Vizio blows the Panasonic way out of the water! The colors on the Vizio are much more vibrant and bright.I hooked up my XBOX by using an HDMI cable. I have Netflix and HuluPlus on my XBOX so watching movies on this monster is great too. Super clear. I havn't tried the Netflix or other video watching apps on the TV yet, I heard that it is even more clear if you do so though. Iv only had it a day so I havn't been able to figure out the audio all the way yet to beable to hook it up to my surround sound but will get it figured out. Also 3D Call-Of-Duty: Black Ops is really neat to see but probably not for everyday use. Mostly because the 2D is so awesome! Def a great tv to get, especially if your an Amazon Prime member and get free 1-day shipping.

Panasonic VIERA TC-L42E30 42-Inch 1080p 120Hz LED HDTV

I was excited for this TV to show up at my door 2 days after I ordered it (thank you amazon prime). I am very happy with my new Panasonic Viera LED HDTV. Some people have expressed having some issues with their TV's but its possible they just happened to receive a defective one (It happens and those who normally get a bad TV complain while us happy people forget to write reviews). There are no dead or stuck pixels. The picture seems to be great quality. The speakers are about as good as a TV is going to have. I am not sure why so many people expect the speakers in the LED LCD's to blow your mind. If you want superb sound buy yourself a nice 5.1 or 7.1 surround system. The Netflix works great, not too sluggish, when you have an Ethernet cable hooked up to the TV. It only plays netflix, amazon video but if your really into streaming you should probably look into a Roku or Logitech Google TV (both are around 99$). I played a few PS3 games and I was really impressed with the response time and overall quality picture during game play.Over all the sound quality, picture and appearance are all great and if your looking for a great 42" LED I would suggest this TV. I plan on following up in a few more weeks.

Update Oct 25 2011

So far the TV has been great with out any issues. After I bought it I did update the TV software. The Netflix is more limited then I would like you cant search ). The TV sound is fine for normal TV but if you like movies surround is a must. I bought a Panasonic blu ray player to use with this TV and I was very impressed with the over all picture quality The New remastered Lion King Looks really good ). Viera link is pretty cool since you can use the tv remote with the blu ray player. I would recommend it to anyone in the 42" led lcd tv market. It works just fine and has no issues.