Flat screen TVs

[begreen]

I did an A/B comparison with many sets when I got our latest Panny. The Panasonic was notably sharper in action shots and up-rezzing 720i source material. However, the Samsung did have a bit more even illumination and a very nice picture. Then I made the mistake of looking at 4K and large OLED with high-rez source material. Don't do that.

 

[Retired Guy]

Thats why I said in my starting post... Im wary of Samsung because of the bad experience I had with the current one we own. Might be RetiredGuy missed that line....


The mrs is downloading the Consumer Reports TV buying guide so we can see what they have to say. Online reviews are all over the map.....

ETA... As I read it seems like the local dimming thing turned out to be a fad that didn't really live up to the claim (plasma like black levels).. Ive been out of the loop and need to catch up on the tech.

Didn't miss the line, just noting my experience. Each set was under $275 and are about the cheapest color TV's that I have ever bought.

 

[jharkin]

Gotcha... Its not that I dont like the Samsung's picture... our existing set is nice when it works. Just that this TV and my Samsung tablet... the only 2 Samsung products Ive ever bought have both been nothing but trouble

And the latest news on Panasonic is that they are considering leaving the TV business altogether, so that's another one off the list (which otherwise Id consider a top choice).

 

[BrotherBart]

I thought of this thread today when I took a load of stuff to the landfill. Over in the area where they take electronics was easily 1/4 of an acre of big screen TV sets three high on pallets side by side. Wished I had a camera with me.

Last year when my wife's 32" flat screen ate a power supply I asked the guy there if they got a lot of the things. "Oh yeah we do."

 

[Seasoned Oak]

Anyone see the new OLED set by LG. Stunning. 1080P but looks ,more like the 4K UHD sets and is compatible with all current devices and content. Price is about the same as 4K sets.

 

[maple1]

Our 52" Sharp Aquos LED is almost 5 years old now, I think, and it's still going strong. Sees a lot of use. Haven't kept up on this stuff since we got it - where's Sharp on the list these days? Never know when stuff will hit the fan & will have to find something new in a hurry...

 

[Dix]

I thought of this thread today when I took a load of stuff to the landfill. Over in the area where they take electronics was easily 1/4 of an acre of big screen TV sets three high on pallets side by side. Wished I had a camera with me.

Last year when my wife's 32" flat screen ate a power supply I asked the guy there if they got a lot of the things. "Oh yeah we do."

They are built to be throw aways. Sad.

 

[TMonter]

They are built to be throw aways. Sad.

The tech changes so fast is why. Even for flat screens technology has come a tremendous way since the early 2000's.

 

[jharkin]

Well I'll be dipped!!

Did some more investigation and i believe the TV is fine afterall! now I suspect the HDMI board of the av receiver is going bad. Signs are that I see the TV overlay OK over the green lines and sometimes the receiver won't get the input from the dvd .


Hmm. Turns out this is a common problem on Onkyo receiver which is what I have.


Still gonna cost but a lot cheaper than the TV.

 

[bsruther]

Well I'll be dipped!!

Did some more investigation and i believe the TV is fine afterall! now I suspect the HDMI board of the av receiver is going bad. Signs are that I see the TV overlay OK over the green lines and sometimes the receiver won't get the input from the dvd .


Hmm. Turns out this is a common problem on Onkyo receiver which is what I have.


Still gonna cost but a lot cheaper than the TV.

We have an Onkyo 5.1 in the basement. Nice sound, but a bit much at times. Chose to go with a Polk soundbar for the living room tv and couldn't be happier.
The sound quality is great and I can actually hear the dialogue over the movie background noise without turning the volume up so loud that it makes my ears bleed.
And the commercials don't make me jump out of my chair when they come on.

 

[Retired Guy]

We have an Onkyo 5.1 in the basement. Nice sound, but a bit much at times. Chose to go with a Polk soundbar for the living room tv and couldn't be happier.
The sound quality is great and I can actually hear the dialogue over the movie background noise without turning the volume up so loud that it makes my ears bleed.
And the commercials don't make me jump out of my chair when they come on.

I ofter have trouble separating dialog from background and am pleased to learn that soundbars may be an answer for me. Polk has models from $99 to $650. Which end of that range did you get?

 

[bsruther]

I ofter have trouble separating dialog from background and am pleased to learn that soundbars may be an answer for me. Polk has models from $99 to $650. Which end of that range did you get?

I got this one.
(broken link removed to http://www.polkaudio.com/surroundbar-5000-instant-home-theater/d/1210)
Did a lot of research and determined it was the best bar for the buck. Went to Best Buy and tested it against others and it sounded as good as the higher priced ones they had displayed. Got it online for 300. Music sounds pretty good through it too.

Oh yeah, and the wireless sub woofer is really nice too.

 

[jharkin]

The sound bars get around that problem of quiet dialog because they have poor dynamic range (i.e. they dont reproduce much of the low and mid base so all you are left with is the midrange and high freqs and they dont overpower dialog).

You can easily fix it on your A/V receiver if it has a dynamic volume function. Some call it simply dynamic volume, Onkyo calls it "Late night mode"

 

[bsruther]

The sound bars get around that problem of quiet dialog because they have poor dynamic range (i.e. they dont reproduce much of the low and mid base so all you are left with is the midrange and high freqs and they dont overpower dialog).

You can easily fix it on your A/V receiver if it has a dynamic volume function. Some call it simply dynamic volume, Onkyo calls it "Late night mode"

Don't want to diddle with settings, just want to turn it on and go and the soundbar does that just fine.

I wish I could find the settings on my receiver that keep the blaring commercials from blasting me.

 

[jharkin]

Hmm. Turns out this is a common problem on Onkyo receiver which is what I have.

Still gonna cost but a lot cheaper than the TV.

To close the loop on my issue. The Onkyo definitely has a failing HDMI board. They apparently have had so many problems with these parts and overheating issues there is a mass recall on all 2009-2012 units. Of course mine is a year to old to qualify.

SO! I broke down and replaced it with a new Marantz slimline 5channel a/v receiver. It doesn't have nearly the bells and whistles of the old Onkyo but still does more than I need, plus it came with a 3 year warranty and cost brand new a lot less than I paid for the old onkyo as a refurb with 1yr. I still had a bit of trouble with the DVD/BD but turning off deep color fixed that.


Anyone want a 7.1 Onkyo reciever with a bad video section? still works fine for audio