HDTV Reviews Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Image Quality’

Sony BRAVIA V Series KDL 52V5100 52 Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV Black

Keep pace with fast-action movies, sports and game play. Equipped with Full HD 1080p and Motionflow 120Hz refresh rate technology, the KDL-52V5100 52-inch BRAVIA V series LCD flat panel HDTV provides a more fluid, natural and realistic viewing experience while enjoying fast-paced entertainment. Additionally, every scene will be sharp, vibrant and life-like thanks to BRAVIA Engine 2 fully digital video processor. Plus, a 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio yields deep blacks in darker scenes. The V series also includes 7 HD inputs to ensure you get impressive image quality from all your HD components such as PlayStation 3, Blu-ray Disc player and your PC.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Very good for a “Introduction To HD” TV
I’ve had this TV since the middle of June 2009(reaching the 6 month period). Before this TV, I’d never had an HDTV or a TV anywhere near this size either. I am pretty tech savvy but HDTVs were not my specialty. With that being stated, I will give you my experience with this particular HDTV.

Since the beginning of 2009, I’d been looking at TVs off and on with the help of “CNET”, just google it, and I’d heard that Sony had an impressive line of entry HDTVs. But I put off the thought of buying one until the middle of June. I was fumbling around on BestBuy’s website (sorry Amazon, at the time, I found a better price. BTW, its just a product review.) and in the “weekly specials” I found this TV on sale for $1499.99, down from its original price of $1999.99. It was the HDTV that I had favored the most from CNET’s reviews, so I made some calls around and none of the stores close had it. I managed to find a store about an hour away that had 2 left, 1 in stock and 1 on display. Drove an hour to check it out and loved it. I added the 3 or 4 year “bring it back no matter what” warranty and after taxes came out to just under $2250, which I paid on the spot in cash, I had not-so-great credit.

Brought it home and set it up and it was a beauty. It took about 30-45 minutes for the TV to recognize (it did something to find all the available cable channels) the channels and our first DVD experience was through our Xbox 360 and it was the Dane Cook’s HBO comedy special. The show wasn’t that greatest thing I’d ever seen BUT the freaking picture was. BTW, the HD cable, Xbox 360, and our Wii look superb on it as well. (Now if I can just get my hands on some Blu-Ray material.)

***PROBLEMS***

I guess every rose has its thorns (haha, cheesy), well this one has (2) of them, and they aren’t really thorns.

1st – MOTION FLOW: To my knowledge(I could be wrong), the MotionFlow feature is the HDTV’s way of enabling the 120Hz refresh rate, which is AWESOME, BUT you can’t just quickly toggle between the 3 options they have for the MotionFlow,(Off, Standard, Full) I mean, you can preview them on the MotionFlow screen, but no quick adjustment feature/button. You have to go into the picture settings every time and slowly make your way to the advanced settings at the bottom of the screen.

2nd – When you have the MotionFlow on “Full” there are still parts during whatever you’re watching that don’t continuously show in that “smooth frame experience”. I’m thinking that the 240Hz HDTVs are probably more dedicated to the continuous MotionFlow. It’s nothing to cry about.

Other than that, the TV is great. The sound is great, it ranges from 0 to 100 and at 60 its good enough for me. Don’t get me wrong, I’d go with a home theater system, but for now its nice. The remote is easy to understand and navigate. I would recommend it to anyone else who was in the same shoes that I was in. To say the least…(haha since I wrote a bibles worth of information) I am satisfied.

Feel free to ask any questions.

5 Stars great tv; great cost
amazon was great. terrific product at a very competitive price. also, easy delivery and installation

5 Stars Totally Happy
Have had the TV now for about 3 weeks and couldn’t be happier. Picture resolution in awesome. Sound is actually really good because Sony has a speaker bar type speakers across the bottom of the TV so the sound actually comes out at you instead of being aimed down and bouncing off the stand like some other brands.

The 120hz motion takes some getting used to after upgrading from 60hz. Otherwise I highly recommend this TV even if it is considered an entry level TV, you’ll never even know otherwise.

5 Stars Quality Television Set
This is a quality television set. The picture looks crisp, football is what I use the tv for mostly..that and xbox 360. This tv is awesome for both of those things. Also, blu rays are fantastic on it….this tv is the total package pretty much.

5 Stars Great TV
I did a lot of research before purchasing this TV. It’s one of the best one out there for the price. The picture is great and has a lot of features. It’s 120 HZ which good for watching sports. The sound quality is JUST OKAY -I recommend attaching a sound system to the tv or (just a couple of mini BOSS speakers which u can get for less than $100.)

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Samsung LN40B650 40 Inch 1080p 120 Hz LCD HDTV with Red Touch of Color

39.9″ screen (measured diagonally) * widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio * Touch of Color high-gloss finish — black with red accents * built-in digital (ATSC) and analog (NTSC) tuners for over-the-air TV broadcasts (antenna required) * built-in QAM cable TV tuner receives unscrambled programs without a set-top box (cable service required) * Ultra Clear LCD panel (1920 x 1080 pixels) *

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars much more than a TV
Great Unit,this is what I like about it:

1. it has a great image quality,

2. great contrast ratio

3. It plays avi and mkv videos directly from an usb port, (portable hard drive or usb flash memory)

4. the red trim makes it very atractive

5. it can connect wireless with the extra dongle.

Cons:

1. hard to see the buttons in the unit. (not the remote)but at the same time this makes it look more elegant so it is not a big con.

5 Stars Very Simple…this tv is beautiful!
Very simply put this tv is beautiful. Great picture, easy to setup, easy to figure out, very easy remote. Stop researching now.

4 Stars Samsung TV
This is not my first Samsung TV that I have purchased. It is my first that I purchased as a gift for someone. The person who has received the TV says that it is fantastic. As a personal Samsung TV owner I totally agree with this. No problems with delivery, all was well right out of the box. Delivered on time and is thoroughly being enjoyed by the owner.

Charles

5 Stars PERFECTO
I did my research, ordered this product and it is perfect. It was delivered 2 days after I ordered it and has a wonderful picture.

This was the best price I could find and Best Buy wouldn’t even match it.

5 Stars Amazing TV!
I love this television! I did about a week of research before committing to this purchase. Amazon had the cheapest price and the best shipping deal. Concerning features this TV does not disappoint. With its crisp picture, fantastic colors and deep blacks everything we watch is miles beyond what we were used to. I’d say the DLNA feature is the best part of this TV. I have it connected to our home network and any show I have downloaded on my computer can be brought up through the tv’s built in menu. Over all… GREAT buy!

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Samsung UN55B6000 55 Inch 1080p 120 Hz LED HDTV

Marketing description is not available.

User Ratings and Reviews

1 Star buyer beware
After only 3 weeks of owning this TV, the TV randomly shut off on its own while we were watching TV. Now the TV constantly just turns on and turns off (with no actual image being displayed on the screen). The only way to shut it off is to disconnect it from the main power source. Called Samsung and apparently it’s an issue with the power supply, and they have to send a technician to repair. Turns out, this is a common issue with Samsung. I am not amused that after spending 2500$ on a brand new TV, it will need repair after only owning it for 3 weeks.

4 Stars Enjoying the Samsung UN55B6000 HDTV
Image Quality and Connectivity:

This Samsung UN55B6000 is excellent technology and priced to move. We’ve got it hooked up to a cable box (MOT DCT 6200) via the 1 component connection and the image is sharp and crispy and the colors are vivid and bright.

We have an older PC connected via the VGA connection and the 3.5mm mini audio connection. Internet browser windows come up real sharp in 1920×1280i resolution. Sidebar: I’m also using wi fi and wireless mouse and keyboard.

Hi-res images look fantastic. This TV was assembled with web-browsing and computing in mind (Net widget, USB, JPEG and mp3 friendly) and Samsung has nailed it.

Online Support and Configuring the Cable Box:

Initially, the cable box was sending 720×480i to the TV. Fortunately I was able to find forums online with posts from a Samsung HD Tech and a cable co. employee that outlined the solution — turn off the cable box, hit the menu button (cable remote) and here you can select the higher (or different) resolution.

Additionally, the cable box required two power cycles for this (resolution) change to take effect but when it did I was viewing cable tv in 1920×1080i.

Using Samsung’s P.Size (Picture) Button:

When watching cable programming broadcast in HD, the 16:9 (aspect ratio) mode looks the best to me. For standard definition programming the Wide-Fit mode stretches the image a bit to fill the screen.

I’ve noticed some adjusting is required when flipping between channels, for example, sometimes CNN ticker text is below the screen and other times the Fox Sports Net FSN graphic is a bit above the screen. Perhaps this issue is addressed in the screen-fit mode, I’m not sure yet, I’ll have to mash a few more buttons. Overall, I give it 4.5 stars.

4 Stars Great TV if one can figure out how to use it.
My family and I just love this TV, particularly for watching sports. We looked at a lot of LCD and Plasmas but saw none that gave us the sense of depth this one does. It is like 3D. Moreover, our family room is also a sun room during the day but the picture is just as strong in the day time as it is when the room is dark. The viewing angle is comparatively wide. We see no appreciable drop off when it is viewed at an angle. It is large enough that my wife can view it from the adjacent kitchen with ease.

Learning how to use its features and to set it up is another matter and that is the one gripe I have with the TV. Samsung only provides a four page manual which tells the owner nothing. Instead it includes a flash drive which contains a manual for its use but it took me over three weeks to realize what the flash drive was for. The manual does not show the available ports or how things are to be connected to the TV. I finally figured it out by trial and error and got the flash drive connected. Finding out how to use it however, was again a lot of trial and error. Once I was able to read the pages, it was hard to read, mostly grey on black (I hate black-you can’t see where anything is on black). Figuring how to page the manual on the TV isn’t easy. Samsung provides numerous steps to take but the user has to leave the Manual screen to go through the steps and unless the user writes out all the steps, it is a tiresome process to follow the steps.

So I tried using the flash drive on my computer. Well the manual is in a strange format so it will not open normally. Windows searched for a driver that would allow viewing the manual and found one which I downloaded and installed The one I found that worked was from IrFanView but one must also download all the plugins before it will work. However, when I opened the Manual, it was unprintable except with a screen capture utility.

That was more trouble than it was worth and it then dawned on me to go to the Samsung Support Center and see if there was a Manual that could be downloaded. Voila, the Manual was available in both PDF and Word formats but because the Manual is in three languages, it is 273 pages long. Just print the first 75 pages.

What I found is that with no difficulty I could run picture shows directly from either my camera or from a card reader. They come out beautifully. If I tried to print pictures that big, they would be grainy as all get out. But the pictures show in full size on the big screen in terrific detail and color and they have depth.

But I wish the USB ports were either on the side or the front where they are easily accessible. I intend to wall mount the screen but if I do I won’t be able to get to the connections which are on the back. And even then it is difficult to insert USB cords because the recess is so narrow.

We love this TV however, because of the lack of a printed manual and the location of the USB ports, I can only give it 4 stars.

3 Stars Good but not great
I got this Samsung UN55B6000 to replace a dead Sony KDL52W3000 that was just shy of 20 months old.

For the price, it came down to this or the 52XBR9. I took the Samsung cause the picture looked sharper at the store and while still smarting from a Sony reliability issue.

Once set up at home, I started to reconsider my choice. While the dark levels are definitly darker, the glossy screen is a nuissance during low lit scenes.

The bezel design is such that the speakers have nowhere to go but behind the TV which relies purely on the condition and distance of the wall behind it. Compared to the Sony, the sound coming out of this TV sucked.

Samsung defaults their screen with 95% contrast level. So there’s not much room for increased contrasts if you ever need to. I believe this is how Samsung obtains their contrast advantage, raise it to max then cover it with a glossy screen.

The slim design also limits source input options. It comes with 4 HDMIs and only either a component or composite source. With the Sony I can connect all my sources redundantly so no need to boot up the power hungry receiver 100% of the time.

So if you hook up all your components into the TV via HDMI, the sound going into your A/V receiver depends on how well the TV can pass it through.

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OPPO DV 980H 1080p Up Converting Universal DVD Player with HDMI and 7 1CH Audio

Prepare to be impressed by the OPPO DV-980H universal DVD player. Continuing the OPPO tradition of exceptional audio/video performance and great value, the DV-980H delivers a stunning picture and immersing sound for today’s home theaters. Advanced video upconversion technology brings standard definition DVDs to life with 1080p “Full HD” clarity. Precision rendering from Super Audio CD, DVD-Audio, HDCD and regular CD creates enveloping acoustics with high fidelity. Complemented with 7.1-channel surround audio, high-resolution picture slide show and a convenient USB 2.0 port, the DV-980H helps you rediscover the treasures in your home theater.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars so far, so good
I had bought a Samsung Upconvert DVD player which died after only 6 months–and I was one of the lucky ones. Many others who bought the same model had theirs crash after only a month or two. So..that said..the jury is still out on this one. It works well, easy to use, is STILL working, came promptly. So far, so good.

5 Stars Great DVD player
Had this player almost a year now with no issues whatsoever. Purchased after reading only positive things about it and couldn’t be happier. The Oppo is sleek and set up easily with my other components. No problems with it and would definitely recommend tho anyone looking for a high end player without wanting to pay a ridiculous price.

3 Stars Pretty decent – a bit “underwhelmed” though
I got the Oppo DV-980H expecting truly stellar DVD upscaling performance and while the image quality was better than the sub-$100 DVD players it wasn’t as good as another DVD player in its price range – the Pioneer Elite DV-49AV. The Pioneer has a noticeably sharper picture (not by a lot, but noticeable none the less). Plus the Pio has better audio quality. I don’t have a home theater set up, and on standard TV speakers or my headphones the DV-49AV just sounds richer (the Oppo strikes me as a little too much on the Treble side – thin and irritating). Plus the Oppo hung three times in quick succession for up to 10 seconds on a disc that the Pioneer played without issue. Being able to track scratched Netflix DVDs is pretty important to me. Another odd thing, while physically smaller, the Pioneer had a good bit more “heft” to it. The Oppo felt a bit more cheaply constructed for its size.

Its a good player – definitely better than the lower tier models, but the Pioneer beats it for the same price (and the Oppo is going back).

Pioneer Elite DV-49AV

5 Stars The best!
The Oppo DV-980H does everything the product description claims and does it well.

After two months of use, I couldn’t be happier.

From my experience, all the rave reviews were right on the mark, and I want to thank all the reviewer that took the time to share their views on this product.

As for Amazon, great service.

5 Stars great preformance and value
this is my second oppo player, my first is still in use in my kitchen with my 40″ sony lcd. this one is in my bedroom paired with my 50″ panasonic plasma. great picture, excellent features, exceptional value. picture rivials my ps3 blu-ray.

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Panasonic TC P50V10 50 plasma TV widescreen 1080p FullHD HDTV

The V10 Series Plasma takes advantage of newly-developed NeoPDP technology, featuring a sleek thin profile and superb levels of brightness and contrast for industry-leading image quality. Designed for the discerning home viewer, the V10 Series meets the strict image quality and engineering standards required to receive the prestigious THX certification, and reproduces the maximum 1080 lines of moving image resolution with accurate color and luminance levels.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars TC-P50V10
The set is awesome. Plenty of picture adjustments so everyone should be able to find or create a picture they like. HD at its finest and a picture that will wow you. The THX mode is nice for movies but I do find it a little on the Green side. Looking into calibration settings on CNET and AV forums to see what can be done to adjust. The picture in game mode, custom mode and vivid mode brighten the colors on the screen if you are looking for a brighter look where THX mode and studio ref maode tend to tone the brightness down. It’s all a matter of eye taste for which setting you like best. As I said there are enough picture settings here to make just about everyone happy.

5 Stars Why purchase an LCD?
The quality of picture, smooth motion without artifact, deepest blacks, and complete picture customization features makes me wonder why anyone would want to spend at least $500 more for an LED LCD TV to even come close to this plasma. Concerns about glare and reflections that have plagued previous plasmas are not evident with this model. This has to be the best plasma out there today and possibly the best value on the market for a HDTV.

5 Stars Outstanding TV
Before making my purchase I had narrowed down my choices to the Sony 52XBR9 LCD, the Samsung LN52B750 LCD, the Samsung PN50B860 plasma, and the Panasonic TC-P50V10 plasma. All had a superior picture, but I chose the Panasonic because:

1. The Sony & the Samsung LCDs’ both had viewing angle issues. The pictures were superb from head-on, but definitely deteriorated as you moved to the side. The Sony was worse than the Samsung in this respect.

2. The LCDs’ both had some motion artifact to my eye even with 240 Hz. The 240 Hz feature is after all an attempt to catch up to the plasmas, which have no motion problem at all.

3. Several online owner reviews on the Samsung plasma mentioned problems with buzzing and problems with Samsung’s customer service. Also, several reviewers complained of the Samsung sound quality. There were no similar complaints with Panasonic. This steered me away from the Samsung plasma.

4. [..] and [...] both rated the Panasonic #1.

Now that I have the TV in my home, I can say that I am completely blown away by the picture quality. It is stunning. The sound is more than adequate. The TV itself looks great. You can see some reflection from the glass screen from certain angles, but only if you’re looking for it. Panasonic’s anti-glare screen seems to work fine. There is no motion artifact even with fast-moving sports like baseball and tennis. If you watch from an angle, there is no deterioration in the picture. I might mention that I put the TV on a BDI #9634 table, and the two look great together. I did a lot of shopping for tables too, and I thought the BDI tables were the best-looking and the best quality.

5 Stars Excellent
I have been looking around for a tv for a long time and googled best tv. This brought me to Cnet’s review of tv’s where this tv was an editors choice. I will be honest with you, I would have been happy and impressed with pretty much any of the sony’s or samsungs as well, but I am very happy with this tv for the last 2 months. The picture quality, as expected, is phenomenal.

I live in a one bedroom apt and the tv and its sound is perfect for the living room despite some people worrying about it. I tried listening for the fans, I couldnt hear them. The ability to purchase amazon dvd’s and bluerays online from the tv and access to youtube is cool although I use the latter rarely.

I also just bought a ps3 slim and you can control it using this tv’s controller using the viera link button and allowing for the link in the slim. That for me is probably the best thing about either the slim or this tv…not having to worry about that awful ps3 remote. I bought from wholesale av and they were good without any complaints, but any of the online sites are probably comprable. I wouldnt buy from best buy or any bricks and mortar store as you pay so much for nothing extra.

I was worried about spending [...] bucks on this but I am glad I did. I am not a tech junkie so I will likely have this for another 5 years or so and right now I am very happy with that. My only worry is that my electricity bill went from [...] dollars a month to [...]. Small price to pay for this excellent tv.

4 Stars Great TV
After almost a year of indecision I finally pulled the trigger and bought the 50 inch panasonic V10. Purchased online from 6th Ave Electronics. UPS killed the first one sent to me. Never even made it to the house, just a tracking message saying it was damaged in transit and could not be delivered.A replacement was shipped out the following week without problems.(Didn’t use UPS this time) After about a month of use I feel the picture is great. Football in HD is truly fantastic. The sound is only so-so. But as most have said if you spend this kind of money on a HDTV you will surely have a being audio system to go with it. My only complaint is the reflections on the screen. I use the TV in a darkened basement but with any lights on at all the reflections are noticeable with a dark background scene. For me this is a minor annoyance but in a room with large windows or natural light I think it would prove bothersome. I would recommend this TV to anyone who wants the best they can get for the money. Just be sure you have the right viewing area for the set.

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