Best Buy Lcd HDTV Blog

XBR clouds continue
Purchased the 40" Sony Bravia XBR6 LCD TV hoping that this newest release of the XBR series would be "mura" free. Mura is the technical term for a cloudy looking background image appearing on an LCD screen in dark or black scenes. The mura in the set I purchased covered a good 60% of the total area. Sony agreed to replace the LCD display panel after it was examined by a certified technician in our home. I decided NOT to go that route as the set was only one week out of the box and one month from its manufacture date. Besides, my research uncovered that the cost of the part was twice the cost of what I paid for the new set in the first place. Amazon customer service department and CEVA/Eagle shipping were both very professional and responsive to the problem, and I was promptly credited the full purchase price.

Since we've happily owned a 42" Sony plasma flat screen TV for three years now, we decided to stay with plasma technology. LCD technology has certainly improved over the years, but mura problems still exist, even in the newest models. BUYERS BEWARE - save ALL original packing materials for at least two weeks after your new set arrives. MURA DOES NOT SHOW UP IMMEDIATEY OUT OF THE BOX. Carefully examine the screen during "blackouts" on the screen; between commercials or channel changes. AND, sit low to the screen and look up a slightly upward angle during the examination.

SONY XBR6 40 INCH
AGAIN..SONY HAS OUTDONE ITSELF...WITH THE XBR6 SERIES. THE 40 INCH SCREEN IS PERFECT FOR THE BEDROOM. A DELIGHT TO TURN ON...WITH EXCELLENT PICTURE QUALITY...CRISP AND CLEAR...WITH ABSOLUTE TRUE COLOR...THAT HAS TO BE SEEN. THE ONLY FLAT SCREEN BETTER...
WOULD BE THE XBR8. EXCELLENT COMMUNICATION AND DELIVERY. AMAZON YOUR THE BEST.

no problems with shipping
Cannot say anything about the TV yet, we just got it today. Wanted to let people know that my shipping experience with CEVA, about which many people complained, was excellent. I placed an order on Monday, the TV arrived on Friday, and the shippers even took it out of the box, assembled the base, and put it on my media center.

Best TV for the money!
I'll keep it simple. Good price. Great Delivery. Outstanding TV. Beautiful picture. Impressive sound! This is the one you want.

Not terrible, but not great.
Perhaps I purchased this monitor expecting too much, but I am disappointed with my selection.

First of all, the Viera with the picture off looks very good. This bad boy has a sleek design and it's shiny frame looks very impressive. It's definitely a high end hdtv...until you turn it on. I don't know where to begin with my disappointment. I got a good deal on it, so the price is not what left me less then satisfied. The display itself is very overrated. It is difficult to get a crisp picture on this unit, and the THX mode that critics praise seems to leave a lot of pictures hazy and cloudy. I'm sure replicating "true blacks" is what a lot of video-philes loved about this set, but even the blacks seem more gray then truly black.

I also read that the sound the set produces is above average. However, when I actually do use the sound that my Panasonic delivers, it sounds painful to my ears. I am not one that buys a television for it's audio qualities, but I am sending out a warning to those that might.

Beyond the less-than-satisfactory qualities that I have mentioned above, my biggest qualm is with the reflective screen attached to the unit. My two biggest concerns while purchasing a plasma were burn-in (which to it's marketing department's credit, Panasonic has convinced me is not a big deal) and reflectivity. The reflection off the front of the tv does not seem to be a huge deal. It's a bit distracting, but overall it is not a deal breaker. HOWEVER, the reflection from INSIDE the tv is what I find incomprehensible for a modern-day television. From most angles (anything not directly in front of the tv), I notice a double image, or reflection, of the original picture. Maybe this is my fault because it's normal for plasma displays, but I find it utterly ridiculous that a modern day television that prides itself on viewing angles considers this to be par for the course. How can a tv actually deliver a "crisp" picture when everything it displays has a "ghost" behind it? Once again, I find this insulting to my intelligence.

I'm sure my review will be ripped to shreds by all of those that consider this unit to be a work of art. I don't have any credentials to back up my opinions. I'm just an ordinary guy on his third hdtv, and I find it fairly disappointing for all the hype this Panny has received. It's not the worse set in the world, but it's far from delivering on the hype that it has received.

Panasonic 50- Inch Plasma
Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ800U 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV

I have always enjoyed Panasonic products. Now I know that they also make a really impressive plasma TV. I thought my 46 Inch Samsung LCD was great until I recently bought this Panasonic 50 Inch plasma. The picture on this TV is crisp and the sound is great! It was well worth the money. Hats-off to Panasonic. I think Samsung really has some serious competition from Panasonic.

TV is Good, AntOnline is not.
I am very happy with this TV. Features are exactly what is advertised. However, I am not happy with AntOnline's delivery service. They attempted delivery using a 48 ft semi and were unable to even approach my house. The shipper called me and said they couldn't stop on my road b/c their truck was too big. I was forced to drive 50 miles to pick up the TV from their warehouse, as AntOnline did nothing to help resolve the issue. I've asked for shipping charge back and have received nothing. I don't recommend buying from them if you live in a residential area.

Great, But, Why No 10-Bit Display?
I ordered this television from Electronics Expo via Amazon and it arrived a little over a week from the ordering date. They originally said they had the television in stock and it was ready to ship, however, I called them up a few days later and they said they were awaiting restocking of this television from their warehouse and then they would ship it. I contacted Electronics Expo a few days later after that and they informed me my television had been shipped and they gave me a tracking number and a phone number to call the shipping company. Arranged for the shipping company to deliver the television the next day. Surprisingly, there was only one delivery guy, so, I had to assist him carry the television downstairs, which was not a problem, however, there should probably be two delivery guys.

Now, regarding the television itself. Last March, I purchased a Sony KDL-V3000 40" LCD (2007 Model), which I am very satisfied with. So, please keep in mind that I am sort of comparing this older model to this newer television, since my eyes are so use to the older model. Essentially, for some reason, Sony downgraded this years W series to a 8-bit display from a 10-bit display last year. My V series from last year has a 10-bit display as well and this was sort of my benchmark when comparing and contrasting my new television to my older one. Though probably only noticeable to someone in my situation, that is, someone who is so use to a 10-bit display, the difference of quality of the color and vividness is noticeable (though marginally) of a 10-bit display vs. an 8-bit display. It's hard to explain. The colors are just more deeply detailed and more vivid on my older 10-bit display. So, if extremely vivid, jump at you color is your primary concern, you should probably consider an XBR television or even last years 10-bit display LCD's. I'm not sure why Sony downgraded their non-XBR series this year to 8-bit displays, whether it be economically, maybe cutting back on input costs to increase their profits or maybe they're seeking to entice consumers to spend that extra cash and go for the XBR series. Again, let me reiterate, you would probably only notice this marginal difference if your eyes had been so already accustomed to the 10-bit display, like mine.

All in all, I'd say this Sony is a solid television. For a 52", the television is pretty light and it only took two people to mount it to one of those mounting stands, which, you remove the base and screw the television onto the mounting stand. The picture quality is above average and the frame of the television is aesthetically pleasing. As always with a Sony, the layout of the settings are intuitive and well designed. The 120hz setting has improved the motion flow of the picture, however, the picture can look too video-like if put on high setting. The illumination of the Sony emblem is neat, though, it can be distracting while viewing, thus, I keep it off. Though, I do miss the vivid detail of a 10-bit display, you can't go wrong with a Sony.

Sony Bravia W-Series KDL-52W4100 Review
Order new via Amazon. Excellent delivery service. Debated between this Sony model and Samsung LN650, but debate ended after seeing excessive glare on Samsung screen. Picture is superb, could not be happier.

great tv great delivery time
ordered the sony kdl-52w4100 on friday and received it the next wednesday - delivered and brought into the house and set on the stand. (Also ordered some Blue ray movies at the same time - it's saturday and they're still not here - went by smail mail.) After ordering, there was a difficulty in getting the Amazon credit card to clear the purchase but was cleared up in a short time. Amazon responded to my communications very quickly.
This tv gives a picture that is probably as perfect as you can find. The picture is great right out of the box. The colors are accurate and not fake looking like some sets. Faces don't have that clay-like look of some others. The cabinet is nice looking and when the hdmi cables are threaded correctly, no wires are visible even through the clear cavity built into the lower part of the set. That design is actually rather neat looking.
The sound is good for tv only sound. I have a sound system hooked up and it is very good.
I chose the sony not only because of their reputation but also I think they stand behind their product better than Samsung and some other brands. So far I am very pleased.

LOVE THIS TV
I LOVE THIS TV. I AM NOT A VIDEOPHILE, JUST YOUR AVERAGE JOE. I MUST SAY FOR THE PRICE THIS THING IS INCREDIBLE. WORKED GREAT RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX AND THE PRICE I GOT WAS UNBEATABLE. SHIPPED FOR FREE, ORDERED WEDNESDAY AND HAD IT THE NEXT MONDAY. EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS WHOLE DEAL IS POSITIVE AND I WOULD ORDER ANOTHER TODAY IF I NEEDED IT OR HAD THE MONEY!

....just outstanding!!
First LCD tv we own. The Amazon delivery was extremely fast - delivered in 2 days. The picture is outstanding. The TV and everything about it is suberb. No complaints whatsoever. I waited a month to review in case I could find something wrong. I cannot say enough nice things about it. The price paid here on Amazon was 0 less then BB. Shipping free. No tax. What more could you want? I would not hesitate to recommend this TV or Amazon for the purchase.

Awesome picture! Awesome price!
I have to say, I was a little hesitant buying a TV from Samsung. I used to work in retail electronics, and they weren't known for high quality products. However, I studied the reviews on this Plasma TV from numerous web sites and finally took the plunge. I am glad I did. I definitely got more than I expected.

I just hope I don't have any problems in the future with it. I have had bad experiences with Samsung customer service. Hopefully it has gotten better, as their products, based on what I see from this TV, certainly have.

Really Great Purchase !!!
This Plasma TV is really great. It has converted my rarely visited basement to the most popular area of the home. Some of the movies & Discovery channel programs, in HD, are really out of this world. I did a lot of research before deciding on this one. For the basement a Plasma was preferred because there is less light and I heard LCDs would be too bright for here. This TV had the best picture quality for the price. Delivery & installation were as promised. I have been shopping with Amazon for quite some time, but this is by far my biggest pruchase from them. Not disappointed though .. would definitely recommend this purchase.

I'm no expert
We recently remodeled our home and created a recess in the wall perfect for a 58" TV. I researched for some time during the remodeling precess and narrowed it down to a Panasonic or a Samsung. We finally decided to order the Samsung 650 Touch of Red on Wed night about 9pm. My delivery was to be Thursday of the next week. My wife got a call on Friday afternoon, less than 48 hours later saying that they wanted to deliver our TV. We had them wait until the evening.

The guy that delivered was real helpful, brought it in, hooked it up to show that it worked and work it did. We run the sound trough our Surround Sound. The picture is beautiful and I received it as quickly as if I had bought it locally. I saved 0 on the unit and 0 in taxes.

This wasn't my first Amazon order but this was by far the most ezpensive one. Amazon is great and the TV is too.

SUPER BUY!!!
This Samsung 58" plasma 650 television is superb! The picture is fabulous and the price I picked it up for from Amazon was great. I would recommend this television for anyone who likes a large plasma. It's got a great appearance and can be optioned for just about everything. I had it put in my Media Room and was glad I ordered the 58" 650 as opposed to the smaller plasma. I also have a Panasonic 42" plasma which has been number one rated in the past for picture quality and I can tell you the Samsung 650 rivals it.

Samsung PN58A650 58-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV with RED Touch of Color
Samsung PN58A650 58-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV with RED Touch of Color

Excellent delivery service and wonderful product.

ULTIMATE HD/BLU-RAY EXPERIENCE!!!
Okay, I will make this short and sweet - This Plasma TV is absolutely the best big-screen experience I have ever witnessed - I have used several large format/hd monitors, Mitsubishi, Proscan, Sony, etc., and this one outperforms them all -

To those who complained about the problems with attaching their computer or video game machines - it's very simple DON'T!!! This TV and it's Wireless Components are designed for one thing - ABSOLUTE VIDEO - from high definition programming or Blu Ray DVD ------It is not an add-on for a Playstation or Xbox!!!

It is really a shame that SamSung is being criticized for designing and producing this TV - I can only state that if you want an unbelievable High Definition and Blu Ray picture, you owe it to yourself to check this instrument out.........THANK YOU SAMSUNG!!!

Shame on Samsung!
Shame on them for not plastering across the box of this unit in big red letters "CANNOT BE USED FOR ANYTHING BUT TV AND DVD!!!!!" The delay between the wireless box and the screen makes playing video games impossible and using the set with a computer in a business environment for things like powerpoint presentations a major annoyance. Why even release the thing until you have sufficient technology to fix this problem? We aren't THAT desperate for a wireless plasma! These days, even an elderly couple who would never in a million years consider playing a video game on their TV needs to take this into consideration because their grandkids will likely be coming over for the weekenend with their Nintendo Wii. What if they don't find out until a year or so after they purchase it? What a bummer! Like I said, shame on Samsung. This set will really be a letdown to a lot of people at some point during their ownership.

Not good for anything but watch TV delay is 180 ms
The Wireless causes the picture to delay for at least 180ms, your surround reciever needs to be able to delay or it will look like a bad synch'ed movie. Not any good for Wii or PS3, the wireless does break up once i a while, but there is no cable mess at all. I will return this TV and get another with long HDMI cables.

DO NOT USE FOR VIDEO GAMES!
The wireless system creates a delay that makes this TV unsuitable for use with video games. I have both a Nintendo Wii and a computer hooked up to the TV. With both, there is a noticeable and significant onscreen delay. If you simply want to watch television, this product is fine. However, if you want to use it for games, select another TV, you will be disappointed with this one.

Decent portable for the price
Knowing that my current little portable TV used for emergencies will "expire" in February 2009 - I ordered one of these because they are set up for the new digital broadcasts. The first one I received didn't pick up any channels and had no sound. I figured it had to be a damaged unit, so returned it to Amazon for a replacement and the second one is working fine. Picks up most of my local channels -Some with amazing clarity and others fuzzy, but I live out in the country, so I'm okay with that since it's really just for emergencies. I'm amazed at the technology, seeing such a sharp, full color picture on that little screen. I've read from other reviews that the battery lasts about 2 hours, but hopefully that'll get us thru a storm. Comes with AC cord, detachable antenna, triple video input cable, car plug-in, remote control (including batteries) and rechargable internal battery. Note, internal battery MUST be installed before it will come on. It's got one of those tiny plug-ins like cordless phones, so make sure it's connected. Overall, I would recommend it.

Sadly Disappointed
I ordered this based on some of the good reviews. Big mistake on my part! I was happy with the Amazon shipping time because it actually arrived earlier than I anticipated. This was the only pro about the order.

Cons:

1. As others have stated, very poor reception. I tried the TV in my house, and in three other areas outside and the reception was horrible! It only picked up one VHF channel and it was fuzzy. The UHF channels it picked up were equally as fuzzy.

2. Instructions for use are minimal. While set up is fairly intuitive, there is no trouble shooting guide.

3. The Haier website is useless. I thought I might be able to find more information about this unit on the website, but it was impossible.

I will be returning this TV and will wait for another manufacturer to release something better. I don't usually write reviews, but I wanted to help prevent others from making a mistake in purchasing this television.

I was hoping to use this TV at football game tailgates. No such luck. :-(

No digital reception unless you live under a TV broadcast tower!
When I opened the box I was impressed with the size of this TV for a 7 inch screen. But thats where the good impressions stop. I put the TV together along with the supplied telescoping antenna and performed a scan for TV stations. Nothing. Just a few analog stations. I have the luxury of having an outside digital TV antenna connection nearby so I connected it. Performed the scan for TV stations and finally was able to receive digital stations from as far 80 miles away. BUT, this is a PORTABLE TV! In a normal situation, I wont have the luxury to connect this TV to an outside antenna. I expect this TV to pick up local stations with just the telescoping antenna. Is that too much to ask? I have a 4 inch analog TV by Casio which has entertained me me for many years, with just the telescoping antenna! I did try the Haier approximately 20 miles from transmitters and it worked a little better but still not good enough. I guess you have to live right underneath the tower!

portable Haier HDTV 7"
Size and quality of picture is great - living in hurricane country it's good to know I'll have a TV I can watch - at least locally - when we have no power for a week and no cable for 2 weeks. Great price to go along with the quality and shipping was prompt.

reciption bad
I BOUGHT THIS TV WITH THE IDEA THAT I COULD WATCH IT WITH OUT ANY CABLE OR CONNECTED LINES . THE ROD ANT IS FOR THE BIRDS I CANT PICK UP AN STATIONS WITHOUT A BETTER ANTENA SO IT DEFEATS THE PERPOSE UNLESS YOU USE A LARGER ONE MADE FOR HD AN DIGITAL. IF I SIT IN MY CAR AN I PUT SOME HD ANTENA ON THE ROOF SOMEONE MIGHT THINK IM ONE OF THE MEN IN BLACK OR A SPY, I DONT WANT TO DRAW THAT ATTENTION SO I GUESS IL SEND IT BACK AN TRY ANOTHER TV, MABE THE AXION SINCE IT HAS AN INNER ANTENA ALTHOUGH THE PICTURE ON THIS LITTLE TV IS GREAT WITH MANY FUNCTIONS WHEN YOU CONNECT IT TO CABLE OR AN OUTSIDE ANTENA .

Great New Generation LED Backlight LCD HDTV!

I've had this for a month now. I also bought the Samsung BD-P1500 with it. I love both units. I connected them to my Sony HT-CT100 soundbar and I am perfectly happy with the sound. Yes, I know the soundbar does not do HD sound,etc,.. but I don't care because the soundbar is quite slick with the TV. Plus, it does what I want it to do so no complaint.

As for the TV. The picture is so crisp and clear and the black level really black that it took a while to get used to watching it. I have a DirecTV HD DVR attached to it too via HDMI and it is an entirely different level of watching TV. The images look so "real" as my daughter said.

I know the TV can do a lot of other things if you attach it to the internet. But, I bought it really for just watching HD TV and movies. So, I was/am not that concern about its other functions.

Right now, DirecTV just upgraded my DVR to 1080p, so I can't wait to see any program or shows in 1080p. But the 1080i resolution is great as it is. So, no complaint in there either.

BTW, the upconversion from the BD-P1500 looks great too. Also, make sure you use HDMI 1.3b cables. I got mine here from BargainCell for < each.