Sony KV-30HS420 30-Inch FD Trinitron WEGA HD-Ready Widescreen CRT TV Review

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(More customer reviews)Contrary to popular opinion, you don't have to buy an expensive plasma or LCD (liquid crystal display) TV to get a great high-definition picure. In fact, many experts (including Consumer Reports) assert that high-definition TVs using traditional cathode-ray tube technology -- as this high-definition Sony does -- currently offer a sharper picture than plasma and LCD TVs, plus they are much less expensive and more reliable. This widescreen HD Sony TV has a very good picture with standard broadcasts and an outstanding picture with HD broadcasts and DVDs. If you'd like to get a widescreen high-definition TV now but your budget is limited to a thousand dollars or so, please consider this 30" Sony.

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Bask in the widescreen glory of Sony's panoramic, high-definition-ready KV-30HS420 FD (flat display) Trinitron WEGA television. The 30-inch set offers analog and digital high-definition inputs, great audio features, and a suite of picture-enhancing technologies. Whether you're watching VHS tapes, DVDs, or high-definition (480p, 720p, 1080i) broadcasts, your programs will look breathtakingly good.The set's 16:9 aspect ratio, Hi-Scan 1080i display, and picture-improvement circuitry let you view a mix of sources at high resolutions, up to 1080i. DRC--Digital Reality Creation MultiFunction circuitry--upconverts standard interlaced (480i) video sources to 960i or progressive-scan 480p, while inputs as high-quality as 720p (720 lines, progressively scanned) are upsampled to full 1080i. Because DRC processes video signals in real time, it creates an image with 4 times the density of the original signal. Sony's MID-X (Multi Image Driver) maintains the integrity of a converted signal by minimizing image loss in the scaling process.Progressive scanning, referred to as 480p and 720p for the number of horizontal lines that compose the video image, creates a picture using twice the scan lines of a conventional DVD picture, giving you higher resolution and sharper images while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts. The set's auto 16:9 enhanced mode detects anamorphically encoded widescreen program sources and offers full picture resolution on the video program, wasting none of its usable lines of resolution on the black bars at the top and bottom of the screen.The KV-30HS420's high-voltage regulator maintains consistent image size, despite variations in brightness during scene changes and channel changes, while magnetic quadra-pole technology reduces "beam spot" distortion and improves corner-to-corner focus and picture sharpness.ClearEdge VM wideband velocity modulation improves the definition at picture edges, creating sharper images by slowing the CRT (cathode-ray tube) beam's horizontal scanning during demanding work--say, when rendering transitions from light to dark parts of an image--and speeding it up when scanning easily rendered sections, like broad dark areas. The set's 3D digital comb filter compares each horizontal scanning line with the lines above and below it, as well as with the corresponding lines on previous and subsequent video frames. This results in higher horizontal resolution, higher vertical resolution, and reduced video noise.The KV-30HS420 also employs CineMotion Reverse 3-2 PullDown technology (often called 3:2 pulldown), a handy feature for watching progressive-scan movies in their native 24-frame format. Digital video mastering introduces a common distortion when adjusting 24 frames-per-second movies to 30 fps video; 3:2 pulldown digitally corrects this distortion, removing the redundant information to display a film-frame-accurate picture.Finally, Dynamic Focus circuitry automatically adjusts the picture during each scanning line for consistent corner-to-corner sharpness.Two high-definition component-video inputs grant optimum connection with a DTV decoder and progressive-scan DVD player, while standard composite- and S-video inputs accommodate all DVD players. The set's HDMI interface provides a digital connection with your DTV receiver. HDMI supports standard-definition (SD), enhanced definition (ED), or high-definition (HD) video, plus multi-channel digital audio--all using a single cable.Choose between rear AV inputs and a set of front AV inputs for extra convenience. A rear AV output offers a switchable fixed- and variable-level analog audio output for hookup with a surround receiver or integrated amplifier.The set features stereo speakers (with 15 watts per channel) and BBE sound enhancement. You can label the set's video inputs and channels for easy selection. If you don't have Dolby Pro Logic processing or a surround speaker system, the TV's SRS TruSurround will simulate surround sound through any 2 speakers.Other video technologies include auto white balance, Dynamic Picture Processor circuitry, Trinitone color temperature control, and vertical aperture compensation. An optional accessory for the set is the Sony audio/video cabinet SU-30HX1.What's in the Box TV, remote control (RM-Y188), 2 AA batteries, a user's manual, warranty information.

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Panasonic CT-27HL14 27" TAU Series HDTV-Ready TV Review

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(More customer reviews)this is a great television, and it is a big improvement over an analog set. There are a few aspects of the tv that make it a #2 choice, though compared to the sony. Consumer reports (2003 issue) states that not all hdtv's are the same in terms of the hd picture quality. this is definitely true. they rank (10 point scale)
sony 10
panasonic 9
samsung 5 (boy is Samsung bad. the king of fuzzy images)
the panasoic image is very close to the sony image, but not quite as good. images run prog. scan through a dvd player (not 720 high def., it is 480 lines (enhanced def.)when playing dvds prog. scan) the image is very very good, but there is slight blurring (probably only noticable by those of us that are very detail oriented, but it is there. a good way to test is to turn on the subtitles and you can see how well the letters look). I compared the panasonic and sony at the stores, with some difficulty becasue the images on screen keep changing, and rarely show a steady detailed image for long, but the sony picture (as of August 2004) were better than the panasonic. I would have gotten the sony, but they didn't make a 27" hdtv in early 2004 when I got this set.
Another advantage of the Sony is there are 2 component inuputs, this set only has 1, so you can't run a DVD recorder signal and DVD player into the set at once. also sonly has 4 picture settings, panasoic only has 3, and two of them are really dark. the Vivid setting is the only one that looks good.
The buzzing coming from the set is from the transformer (claims a repair person), that sound isn't from the speakers. a bit annoying, but there's nothing that can be done as far as I know to fix that.
one note on the s-video. the s video images are really dark on this set. I use the s video to get the closed captioning off some dvd disks that don't carry over on prog. scan, but it's unlikely many people will be using s video much unless you have a specific reason like i do. It's too bad they seemed to have messed up the s video on these hd sets (I tested a few). that may have to do with the hd technology inside. an anolog set may give a better image that these hd sets with s video.
this is still a great tv compared to others and the picture is great, I would imagine these tvs will last a long time so one should make the best decision. ( I chose the 4 by 3 shape because that's the format I watch the most of).

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Enjoy all that high-definition television has to offer with Panasonic's CT-27HL14 27-inch TAU series HD-ready TV. The CT-27HL14 comes packed with features to create the ultimate home entertainment experience. The 3-line digital comb filter separates color from black-and-white accurately in a television signal. As a result, it improves overall color sensitivity and image clarity. In order to enjoy high-definition TV you must connect the TV to a DTV set-top box and a DTV signal must be present in your area.
Parental control give parents ultimate control over what their children are watching. You can lock out up to 4 channels, or choose to lock all channels with other selectable options. A 4-digit code needs to be entered to deactivate the lock. Parents can also prevent the use of video games or other video sources from being displayed. Other handy features include a sleep timer, multilingual menus, closed captioning, bass and treble balance, and the TV comes with a universal remote control.
Enjoy virtual surround sound without the elaborate home theater system. With only two speakers it can simulate cinema-like sound when playing any Dolby Digital DVD or Video DC. BBE high-definition sound also improves dialog intelligibility, and music is converted to a more natural sound, providing for crystal clear audio. There are two side speakers, which provide 7.5 watts each.
Connect to digital sources like DVD players and satellite systems using component and S-video inputs for the best possible picture. Other available connections include one front and three rear A/V inputs, A/V program out, and stereo audio out (fixed and variable).
What's in the Box CT-27HL14 27-inch television, universal remote control, 2 AA batteries, user's manual, and warranty information.

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Samsung LN46A750 46-Inch 1080p DLNA LCD HDTV with RED Touch of Color Review

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(More customer reviews)I have only had this TV for a few days, so this is not a complete review, but I wanted to warn others about some issues that they may find important.
Picture quality is great - I have not run a calibration or tested various known sources for difficult to reproduce scenes or motion. The blacks are so good that the image color looks over saturated at the factory default setting when placed next to a panel with lower contrast ratio. (It should be kept in mind that the eye has a logarithmic response to light, and a 50,000:1 contrast ratio may not be that much more than a 30,000:1 ratio.) In the store I was comparing this panel to a 46a550 and 46a530 all at their factory default settings. The 550's image was more natural looking at the factory default setting.
Watching SD analog content on digital TVs can be annoying with various artifacts visible in the conversion of the analog signal to the native digital of the TV. This TV does a very respectable job of this - with the SD images mostly just looking fuzzy and soft compared to digital content - pretty much what one might expect.
The TOC feature seems like a waste of time and may introduce some issues with light bleeding in from the environment. Not a problem for me in my home environment.
So, if I was happy with the image on the 550 why did I get a 750? Two reasons - Motion blur: the 650 and 750 panels have higher response times and higher refresh rates thus reducing LCD motion blur artifacts, and reason two: DLNA... DNLA is a very nice feature - super nice - I hope it takes off.
DLNA takes advantage of networking and media stored on a PC to provide viewable content through the TV. What's really going on here is that the TV designers are taking advantage of the computer they have inside the TV to enable them to do more digital media things with the TV. The TV has an Ethernet network interface - wireless or wired. We're computer geeks, we have a fairly robust network and my family has a strong interest in Internet downloads of various media content - in particular video. I have various foreign video content that I cannot get on a DVD. Netflix and others (Amazon, Apple, etc) have downloadable video content, although the DRM on much of this content is a problem. The rub is you have to watch this downloaded content on a PC, or a PC hooked directly up to a TV display or some other media PC kludge. DLNA helps get around some of these issues. The DLNA capability of this model is remarkable, not perfect, but still great. You have to install a piece of software on the computer that provides a way for the PC to share content on the PC through the network interface for the TV to "see". On the TV, you use the W.link feature to access the shared content on the PC. Music, Images and Videos stored on the PC are all accessible through the TV. Remarkably easy to access and view on the TV. Fantastic. There are a few glitches - The software on the PC was not able to handle all the media I threw at it in the first go around - I backed off (why would I play music through a TV?) and the software was able to complete it's build of it's database of content on the PC. I hope this problem will get cured in future versions of the DLNA server software that runs on the PC. Another small glitch was that when I decided to end my watching of these shows stored on the PC and I exited the w.link feature it appeared to crash the TV's OS. I had older firmware (1004), so I updated to 1007 and I hope this might cure the problem, although I have no evidence of this yet.
So DLNA looks very promising but it is not perfect. I have not tried viewing content that is locked with DRM of some kind, but I strongly suspect this is not going to work. Further proof that DRM is seriously flawed. Legitimate users (paying customers) should not be restricted in their reasonable use of the content.
The remote seems sufficiently user friendly - some lettering is large enough for older eyes to read easily and the back lighting feature works the way it should making it easier to _read_ the keys in the dark.
The manual's content seems complete and readable but the manual has a major and very annoying flaw. The manual is large with many many pages so being able to refer to page numbers is crucial. It does have page numbers but I defy you to read them in anything other than bright sunlight! They are black numbers printed on a gray field. Strangest printing setup I've ever seen. In the grand scheme of things this is only a minor detail but it is strange - the company knows about the importance of contrast. If I can download the manual as a searchable and linked pdf I won't care.
I have not yet discovered a way to edit the channel description in the channel list. A few digital channels have the information on what their station ID is, but many do not. I have not found a way to add or edit a description that tells me that, for instance, cable channel 117-25 is actually broadcast 33-1 or WBFS or some other more identifiable name.
I also am not yet aware if one can apply individual optimizations to each input. If one can this would be ideal.
Another minor point - I'm not too sure how "green" this TV is in it's energy use. I was quite surprised to discover it was noticeably warm when standing next to it while on.
Finally, my two major disappointments with this TV are:
1) PIP feature - which is quite limited, more like a cheesy cheap faux PIP. First, access to the PIP feature is not at all easy - one has to navigate various menus and sub menus to get at it. But the real problem is that the TV does not have a second tuner of any sort - you cannot watch two channels and swap between them without a second tuner connected through one of the external sources. In fact the PIP limits you to only being able to watch the built in Tuner content in the sub window of the main display which must be using an external source of a specific variety. Strange.... for a high end flagship product to have this kind of limited functionality... A little disturbing and makes you wonder what other cost cutting decisions one might discover with this product in the future.
2) The fixed base - the base does not swivel despite what the specifications at various sites say. I'll have to get a turntable.
Overall - where it matters most - the picture is spectacular. LCDs have come a long way. The picture makes me smile - it's just fun to watch.

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Revolutionary design. Ready to make a statement in your home. The SAMSUNG LN46A750 HDTV offers a truly unique entertainment experience with new Touch of ColorTM. And InfoLinkTM RSS lets you stay connected. Instantly access news, weather, sports and stock information at the push of a button. Seeing is believing with Auto Motion Plus 120HzTM. It creates a crystal-clear picture and wonderfully realistic action scenes. Upgrade your home entertainment with the latest in HD technology

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Universal HDTV Cable Connection Kit - 8 Cables for Audio & Video for any HDTV, Home Theater & More - HDMI, DVI, S-Video, Component, Toslink Review

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(More customer reviews)You get a variety of cable connections in this package for such a decent price.

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Get 81% OFF

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Samsung HP-S5053 50-Inch Plasma HDTV Review

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(More customer reviews)After shopping for several months I finally took the plunge and purchased this TV from a national chain. I finally decided plasma over DLP because of the vertical fading effect I saw with all the DLP sets. I took two of my own DVDs in to the store with me and made the staff there hook up a player so I could see both the fast action of The Matrix and the beautiful scenery of Spring, Summmer, Fall, Winter, Spring. The picture on the Samsung HP-S5053 was the second best of the many plasmas that I examined. The Pioneer had a better picture but was significantly more expensive. I do not use the built in speakers because I had an existing 5.1 speaker system. I really like the minimal black casing since the silver finishes are distracting-at least to my eye.
The menus are extremely intuitive. I didn't have to read the instructions at all to get anything working within an hour of unpacking my system. I purchased an upconverting DVD player and an HDMI cable at the same time I purchased this TV. My old DVDs look great on this TV. The 10-15 HD channels I get with Cox cable also look incredible. The one fault I've found is that if I use the HDMI cable from my cable box or DVD player and connect to the TV and then connect the digital audio out of the TV to my receiver I only receive stereo sound even when the original broadcast is 5.1. I get around this by using composite video cables from the cable box and DVD player to the HPS5053 and also run a digital audio line from each source to the receiver. The HPS5053 has plenty of inputs to support almost any type of user.

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Offering an incredible feature set and exceptional quality for its price, Samsung's fifth-generation 50-inch HP-S5053 plasma TV uses the company's proprietary electronic chassis and the latest DNIe enhancement circuitry to deliver outstanding brightness, contrast, and image clarity. Use it for home theater and use it for your PC--it's perfect for both. In addition to a standard-broadcast NTSC tuner, it also features an integrated ATSC tuner that can capture over-the-air digital broadcasts from local network affiliates (the set will still require a set-top tuner for receiving non-terrestrial HD broadcasts from channels like HBO or Discovery).
The Samsung Digital Natural Image engine (DNIe) Video Enhancer refines all analog NTSC and wideband video inputs for an overall improvement in picture quality. DNIe improves contrast, white level, picture detail and incorporates digital noise reduction to improve lower quality video inputs. Thanks to the new 13-bit processing capability of DNIe, the HP-S5053 can produce over 549 billion colors (compared to the one billion colors that TVs with 10-bit processing can produce.
This set features a 1366 x 768-pixel resolution, 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio, 175-degree viewing angle, brightness rating of 1300 cd/m2 (candela per square meter), and an amazing 10000:1 contrast ratio. (The higher the contrast ratio, the greater a TV's ability to display subtle color details and not get washed out by ambient room light.) The 3D Y/C digital comb filter constantly analyzes the three dimensions of picture height, picture width, and picture changes-over-time to dramatically reduce edge image artifacts while improving transition detail.
The anti-glare plasma panel offers several protective features to resist burn-in, including auto pixel shift, signal pattern processing, and white screen function. It's rated for a 60,000-hour panel life (6 hours of usage a day for 27 years). Other features include:
Picture-in-picture (PIP) enables convenient simultaneous viewing of TV programs and video or PC sources.
Parental Control (V-Chip) helps parents monitor what their children watch on TV by establishing rating limits.
Auto volume leveler keeps audio volume consistent during channel changing.
Multi-lingual on-screen displays in English, Spanish or French.
Side A/V input

High-quality virtual surround sound can be experienced with just the speakers built into the sides of the TV. SRS TruSurround XT technology delivers an amazing, simulated 3D effect with clear dialog and powerful bass. It produces 10 watts of power per channel (for 20 watts total) and offers the following connection options:
Composite (RCA audio/video): 2 inputs (1 on the side)
S-Video: 2 inputs (1 on the side)
Component (Y/Pb/Pr): 2 inputs
HDMI: 2 inputs
PC: 1 D-Sub15 input
RF: 2 inputs
Digital audio: 1 coaxial and 1 optical

Tech Talk HDMI is a lossless, uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface to link any audio/video source (such as a set-top box, DVD player, or AV receiver) with your TV--all over a single cable. HDMI supports standard, enhanced or high definition video, plus multi-channel digital audio on a single cable. It supports all ATSC formats--standard (SDTV), enhanced (EDTV), and high (HDTV).
TruSurround XT audio adds three new audio enhancement technologies to produce an amazingly immersive sound experience.
Dialog Clarity brings movie dialog into ÒfocusÓ during the playback of any surround-encoded material to make speech much clearer and crisper.
TruBass creates incredible deep rich bass allowing a person to perceive significantly deeper, richer low bass tones that are far beyond the physical low frequency capabilities of the speaker itself.
The SRS WOW feature widens the soundstage by processing standard two-channel stereo material as well as multi-channel encoded material for a dramatic improvement in the playback of any stereo audio over a two-speaker system.
Component video (also called Y/Pb/Pr) features a three-jack video input, which provides separate connections for luminance (Y), blue color difference (PB) and red color difference (PR). This results in increased bandwidth for color information, resulting in a more accurate picture with clearer color reproduction and less bleeding than you would get with S-Video or composite (RCA yellow video plug) connections. You will need a separate RCA left/right audio cable for sound.
What's in the Box Plasma TV, remote control (with batteries), power cord, printed operating instructions

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Toshiba 26HL66 26-Inch Diagonal TheaterWide 16:9 Integrated HD LCD TV Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been spending time seriously researching which LCD HDTV I'm going to buy. My choices are between the Sony 26S2000, Panasonic 26LX600, Samsung LN-S2641D, Sharp 26SH20U and Toshiba 26HL66.
I'm a Sony fan, owned several of their TVs over the years and been pretty happy. I was leaning that way again - my last TV was a wonderful 23" Sony LCD HDTV that I gave to a close friend because she didn't have a TV and I wanted a slightly larger model with HDMI anyway. I know most people now pass over the 26" and go for the 32" but the smaller size suits my small living room which I don't want to make a screening room!
However the recent Consumer Reports (that I personally respect a lot in the absence of any other thorough independent comparative study I can get my hands on) on the new crop of LCD HDTVs put my Sony preference on hold because the Toshiba is TOP RATED in both the 26" and 32" categories. I spent some time looking at these models over the weekend and my decision is almost made. The Toshiba picture looks great - better than the Sony (though it's hard to tell in a TV store where everything is on an HD feed).
So with Consumer Reports ratings and analysis placing the Toshiba ahead by 3 points overall, actual design and price comes more into play - and I have to hand it to the Toshiba! The Sony looks pretty dull and a bit too plastic (I know they all are made of the stuff!) whereas the Toshiba ironically looks pretty cool because it seems to have taken it's styling cues from Sony's highly desirable XBR line! BTW
I didn't include the XBR in my quest because it's much more than I can afford - though of course I lust after it. But for some $300 less, the Toshiba may well prove to be an excellent top rated XBR substitute. In fact it's the least expensive of all the other models I mentioned in this review.

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This Toshiba model is a high-definition widescreen TV that's ideal for the latest digital entertainment. Not only does it feature a Regza Premium Cinespeed LCD panel capable of 1080 interlaced lines of HDTV resolution and an HDMI input port, but it also has a 15-pin D-sub port, allowing you to connect a PC and have the set double as a computer monitor.
The Value of LCD TVs Aside from their obvious aesthetic value, LCD TVs are much more practical in the home than CRT (tube-style) televisions. They take up a smaller footprint, and thus use up less floor space in the room. Also, LCD TVs are lighter and easier to move around when cleaning or redecorating. The 26HL66 is only 4.61 inches deep and weighs less than 33 lbs. without the stand. Best of all, LCD screens use less power than CRTs and plasma screens.

Video Response time is the interval an LCD screen takes to switch from its darkest color to its lightest color and back again, measured in milliseconds (ms). This screen's response time is 8 ms, which is at the faster and better end of the spectrum. This screen is likely to display cleaner, sharper images during high-action scenes and display fewer image artifacts than other screens in its class. And because the set has a 12-bit digital processor, it can display many times more shades of gray and levels of color than 8-bit systems can. The set is rated with a 176-degree viewing angle, so the picture will be viewable from nearly any part of the room. While it lacks the CableCARD slot that other sets have, the 26HL66 does come with a built-in QAM digital cable tuner and an ATSC/NTSC tuner that will display terrestrial or over-the-air HDTV and traditional analog signals.

HDMI Compatible The set comes with a built-in High-Definition Multi-media Interface (HDMI) port. HDMI is an interface format that provides uncompressed digital audio and video directly from a DVD player, next-generation game system, or some other digital video source. It represents the current state of the art in high-definition video and sound because the information never has to be converted into an analog format or compressed. Another benefit of HDMI is that it puts all that information into one cable and one easy-to-use connector.

Audio SRS WOW, a combination of SRS 3D, TruBass, and Focus sound-expanding systems, creates a 3-D sound field with improved bass response over standard TV audio as well as a directed, three-dimensional audio sweet spot for maximum enjoyment. The cabinet includes stereo speakers, but the TV also has optical digital output for connecting to your audio system. Toshiba's StableSound feature maintains television volume within a preset range regardless of the source signal. This is an extremely useful feature when transitioning between a quiet television program and a very loud commercial advertisement or when changing channels.

Parent Features The 26HL66's sleep timer allows you to set the television to automatically shut off after a preset duration. It's a handy and common feature to modern TVs, but the 26HL66 takes it a step further. Game Timer shuts the TV off after set duration and can only be turned on with a special lockout code. The Video Lock feature allows the user to lock out selected inputs, which is handy when limiting a child's access to video games. Of course the built-in V-Chip functionality makes it so parents can set a threshold content setting and effectively lock inappropriate TV content out of the home.

Other Features For optimum display of each type of input source, the 26HL66 allows the viewer to make video adjustments for each type of input, such as RF, composite, S-video, and ColorStream component video inputs. The SurfLock feature gives the viewer the freedom to browse programs on other channels then return to the original channel at any time simply by pressing one button.

26-inch Widescreen A general rule of thumb for selecting the right size television screen is that the screen width--not its 26-inch diagonal measurement--should be between three and five times the optimum viewing distance, such as the distance from the TV screen to where your eyes are while sitting on the couch. Less than that, and you may be distracted by the scan lines of the picture. More than that, and you may lose the detail of your TV. Based on this guide, the 26HL66 is ideal for viewing distances of six to 10 feet.

Here is a list of the set's audio, video, and data connections:
Audio/video inputs: 2
ColorStream HD inputs: 2
S-video inputs: 1
HDMI input: 1
PC input: 1
RF input: 1
Audio video output: 1
Optical digital audio output: 1


What's in the Box Toshiba 26HL66 TV, 4-item glow universal remote, TV stand, product manual and warranty information

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Philips 32PF5320 32-Inch Widescreen LCD HD-Ready TV Review

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(More customer reviews)First, the Amazon description is wrong - this model does not have a Cable Card slot. Bought mine at Sam's Club. Out of the box, and set up in about 15 minutes - stand screws to the TV with 4 screws, very stable, clean look. Plugged in DVD via component video - MI2 looks great, great picture. Problem is when playing movie with sudden light bursts (lasers in Star Wars IV, T2). Screen goes black and does not recover for 1-3 seconds. Called Philips, they had me try hooking it through composite video, and it works fine. So their question was "is it the DVD player output or the TV input?" Well, since the DVD player worked fine through a CRT TV with component video before this, and I am using the same cables... I suspect it is probably the TV. I tried going through the CVI 2 also, using their supplied cable through the PC/CVI 2 connector, but the same problem. Since the input works fine for the rest of the movie, I am beginning to suspect that it is not a connector issue, but a processor issue in the TV. I even tried the Star Wars movie on a cheap portable DVD player, and it played fine, so it is not the disc. Philips told me they have no service center near Denver, so they could not send anyone to check it out in house, told me to try another DVD player or return it.
Other thing I noticed is that when receiving regular OTA channels (no HDTV tuner in TV), it takes a few seconds after changing channels for the TV to adjust colors, usually to darken them. I could live with that, since I suspect that hooking up HDTV tuner through the HDMI would cure that issue.
Color is rich, sound is very good from the side speakers. Nice looking unit. I like that the connectors are underneath, so cables don't stick out from behind the TV, but come up from below and are protected. Remote is small, easy to use and well laid out.

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Save space and enjoy a wonderfully vivid picture with the stylish, 32-inch Philips 32PF5320 widescreen LCD TV, a great choice for small- to medium-sized living rooms. It has a built-in 181-channel NTSC tuner for standard television broadcasts and is capable of displaying crisp high definition video with an optional HD receiver. This set can also double as a PC monitor, and with its Picture-in-Graphics small window in the main picture, you can simultaneously view your PC's desktop as you watch television programming. This set includes a tabletop stand, but it's also wall-mountable with optional kit (VESA compatible--200mm x 100mm).
The 32PF5320 has a 1366 x 768-pixel resolution, 176-degree viewing angle, very fast 18 ms (millisecond) response time (great for sports), a 500 cd/m2 (candela per square meter) brightness rating, and an 600:1 contrast ratio. (The higher the contrast ratio, the greater a TV's ability to display subtle color details and not get washed out by ambient room light.) Other features include Philips Digital Crystal Clear video processing chip (for optimal color, contrast, and sharpness levels), an anti-reflection coated screen, auto volume leveler, adjustable color temperature and sharpness, sleep timer, and V-Chip parental controls.
The 3D comb filter separates brightness and color signals better in 3D domain to eliminate cross-color, cross-luminance and dot-crawl distortion. It performs field-by-field comparisons of the television image to accurately separate the color from the black-and-white information and remove both horizontally and vertically hanging dots, as well as dot crawl, resulting in a razor sharp image. This set also performs 3:2 pulldown detection and reversal, too--a handy feature for watching progressive-scan movie programs in their native 24-frame format. To adapt 24 frames-per-second movies to 30 fps video, frames in the original movie must be duplicated; 3:2 pulldown digitally corrects this duplication by removing the redundant information to display a frame-accurate picture.
The Active Control function uniquely and intelligently optimizes picture quality by measuring and analyzing the incoming signal to automatically adjust picture quality settings. Active Control with Light Sensor uses a sensor to adjust the picture brightness depending on the room light conditions.
This TV has two built-in stereo speakers that produce 15 watts per channel (for 30 watts of total power), and can produce Dolby Digital virtual surround sound, emulating a 5.1-channel sound field from just two speakers. It also offers the following connections:
Composite AV (RCA) In: 2 (1 side)
S-Video In: 2 (1 side)
Component Video In (Y PB PR): 1
HDMI In: 2
RF In: 1
PC Audio In: 1
PC VGA In: 1
Headphone: 1

Tech Talk HDMI -- HDMI makes an uncompressed digital RGB connection from the source to the screen. By eliminating conversion to an analog signal, it delivers an unblemished image. The non-degraded signal reduces flicker and leads to a clearer picture. HDMI intelligently communicates the highest output resolution with the source device. The HDMI input is fully backward compatible with DVI sources but includes digital audio. HDMI uses HDCP copy protection.
What's in the BoxLCD TV, remote control (with batteries), tabletop stand, power cord, printed operating instructions

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Mitsubishi WD-73738 73-Inch 3D DLP HDTV Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I'd like to make two points clear at the outset. One, I have always been a bit suspicious of glowing reviews I've read out here, suspecting somehow they had been written by people associated with the company producing the product being reviewed. And two, although I have purchased other less expensive items online, I have always had a great fear of buying large ticket items, such as this television set, online.
I had resisted buying an HDTV mainly because I wasn't comfortable with the drawbacks inherent in each type of set, e.g. burn-in for plasma sets and dropped pixels for LCD sets, plus the fact that the picture on most of these sets gradually deteriorated as each day went by. My current set had been a 45 inch Mitsubishi DLP television, whose picture was still as sharp and clear as the first day I turned it on back in 2001, despite the fact that the original lamp had never been replaced. So I was definitely a Mitsubishi fan, despite some of the problems I'd read about with certain of their earlier DLP high definition models.
But the thing which really motivated me to finally purchase a Hi-Def set was the day I watched my first 3D demonstration at a Best Buy store. It was amazing and all I could think of after that was watching my favorite sports teams in 3D. So I began a long and very arduous research process, mainly online. It finally brought me to this particular Mitsubishi 3D ready set, despite the negative reviews given to certain earlier Mitsubishi models, whose warranties Mitsubishi did extend for two additional years. And, it seems as though many people bought these Mitsubishi sets without ever being aware that, under varying circumstances, they may have to replace their lamp from time to time.
At any rate, I eventually took the giant leap of faith and ordered my new Mitsu 73 inch HDTV from Amazon.com., mainly because I had made other smaller buys from Amazon.com with no problems and I have to admit I liked the idea of free shipping and no state taxes on a large ticket item like this, which saved me around $260.00. Anyway, the big day arrived and while I had had many earlier concerns over how the delivery would be handled, I was delighted to find how smoothly the actual delivery process went. At the time of purchase, the delivery was scheduled for 7/22/10 between 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM. They actually arrived at 10:15 AM on 7/22/10. As I was extremely relieved to find, the two men handling the delivery actually brought the stand and set inside my apartment, in that order, and carefully unboxed each item. They then gave me plenty of time to carefully inspect each item for any exterior damage. They then carefully placed the set on the stand and even turned on the set to make sure the initial blue screen appeared. So, it turned out all my delivery fears were absolutely unfounded. The delivery could not have gone better.
After they left, I waited for a bit and then began hooking things up. After plugging everything into my new surge protector and making the required connections, I turned the set on and went through the required set-up routine, making all the picture settings which had been recommended on several Hi-Def forums for the earlier version of this model. These seemed to give me a very nice initial picture, although I feel I may have a bit more tweaking to do to suit my individual preferences. But after briefly watching some college football and professional golf, as well as an episode of The Sopranos, I believe all my research has been well rewarded and that I have purchased the perfect set for me. There have been a few who told me they would never have anything to do with Mitsubishi sets, but as I told them, I will remain a fan until such time as this set proves me wrong. In addition, I will mention that I did purchase a SquareTrade extended warranty for this set, as I would have done for any item costing this much. The cost was little enough to provide peace of mind for four years. And, as I later learned, my Visa card automatically extends the warranty for a fifth year.
So I suppose this review is exactly the type that would have inspired me to believe it was written by a Mitsubishi employee. Nothing could be further from the truth. I just feel I did my homework and bought this item from a reliable E-tailer and hopefully, I will be enjoying my new Mitsubishi 3D HDTV for many years to come.
I'm back with some additional information as I've decided to include the basic settings I've come up with to obtain what I think is an excellent picture on this particular HDTV set. They are as follows:
Color 40, Tint 27, Sharpness 31, Color Temp. Low, Video Noise Med., Edge Enhancement On, Deep Field Imaging Off, Smooth 120 Off, Picture Mode Natural, Contrast 33, Brightness 31. I might also add most of my viewing is done in pretty dim lighting, which I think very much contributes to an optimum picture.
I'd also like to add that the 3D picture on this set, using the Panasonic DMP-BDT350 3D BluRay player, is absolutely phenominal. My only other experience with 3D television viewing was at a Best Buy Store where I watched a 3D demo on a 55" Samsung LED set and the 3D effect with this 73" Mitsubishi is far better. It is true that the more immersive the experience (the larger the screen), the better the 3D effect is. Now I am simply waiting for my upgraded (HR21 and above) DirecTV receiver so I can begin viewing some of their existing 3D sports channels.
Well, here it is in my second week and I just received (finally) the DirecTV receiver (HR21-200) I needed to receive their on-air 3D programming. After calling DirecTV to activate this new receiver I hooked up the Mitsu 3DG-1000 adapter kit, chose 3D programming on my Mitsu 73738 HDTV menu, put on my 3D glasses and sat back to enjoy some of the most amazing television I've ever seen. I watched a 3D program on Channel 104 called The Universe and after watching the asteroid belt head directly into my living room, followed by a close-up of the surface of the sun (which appeared to be hovering about six inches above my coffee table)I knew I was hooked and hooked BIGtime!!! And if that wasn't enough to do it, I then watched some lions and a cheetah roaming the veldt, with their heads occasionally poking into my living room, and that absolutely finished off the job! I am now officially a 3D addict! Lower prices and more extensive 3D programming be hanged! I bought now and I'm glad of it! Now just bring on my first 3D football game!
Just another note to mark the passing of my first month with my new Mitsu HDTV. Everything still working great! I have been very much surprised to find a group of people out here who are definitely anti-Mitsubishi. Some of their reasons seem no more substantial than possibly having to replace the lamp in a Mitsubishi set. To my way of thinking, that's kind of like buying a Hummer and then asking the dealer what kind of gas mileage it gets. If you're spending $2,000 + for a great 3D HDTV and you occasionally have to replace a hundred dollar part (which incidentally will restore your set to having the same great picture you had on Day 1) then that's no biggie at all.
For you people out there who have DirecTV, I might suggest when you set up your new 3D receiver that you pick the "Non-natural" option in the video set-up. If you don't, every time you switch programs to one with a different resolution, the screen will briefly go blank and you will hear eight or nine loud clicking noises before the new program begins. After awhile it became very irritating so I decided I'd rather do without it.
Well, here I am back again at just about the end of month two with my Mitsu 73737. Everything still works fine. I'm mainly here to comment on the 3D programming I've watched during these almost 60 days, particularly the sports programming. Tennis was a disappointment. Since the camera coverage is usually from behind one player and because most players spend their time at the baseline, then you're not going to get much change in depth, which definitely diminishes the 3D effect. Plus, the court itself is flat, unlike the rolling hills of a golf course. Golfing was very enjoyable to watch in 3D because everyone is constantly moving around and changing depth in relation to the camera positions. Motocross X Games were fun; watching those bikes do 360s high above uneven ground. Basketball offered pretty good effects but football was my favorite of all, especially when covered with multiple cameras, including overhead views. There was one particular pass play during the Va. Tech./Boise St. game where the pass came right at you into the end zone. Really great 3D effect! But the one sport I'm still really anxious to see is Boxing! I think that might turn out to be the best sport of all for 3D viewing.
However, I feel the features made especially to demonstrate the 3D effect remain the best source of amazing 3D programming. There is one in particular and it features various jungle animals, including a rather large snake, which uncoils directly toward the viewer. I defy anyone to sit and watch this snake move directly into your room and toward your face without unconsciously moving backwards and/or putting your hand up to protect yourself. I've watched it 4 or 5 times now and I still can't just sit there and watch it without physically reacting.
And for you videophiles out there who complain because these particular Mitsubishi HDTV sets use the checkerboard format for 3D viewing, which reduces the resolution from 1080 to 720 for each eye, I can only say it's a total
non-issue as far as I'm concerned and I doubt the majority of viewers could even tell the difference anyhow. In fact, it reminds me a bit...Read more›

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The 3D Ready Mitsubishi WD-73738 DLP HDTV.Click here for a larger image.

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RCA 26LA30RQD 26-Inch 720p LCD TV - Black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)As a busy Mom of two toddlers - we bought this TV to go in our breakfast room & kitchen so that we could have a few minutes to cook or clean and keep the boys entertained. We hung it on the wall with a swivel and have been completely satisfied with everything about this product. The picture is great, and having the combination unit with the DVD player right inside the television is really convenient so that we don't have to find a place to store another piece of equipment.

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26 inch LCD HDTV + DVD Combo - Tuner: ATSC, 4 HDMI input, Resolution: 1366 x 768, Contrast: 800:1, Brightness: 450cd/, Response Time: 5ms, Digital 3D Comb Filter, DVD/SVCD/VCD/CD/ MP3/JPEG

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Samsung LN46B530 46-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have owned this TV for about 5 months and I am very impressed with this TV and have many good things to say about it. I currently have this TV hanging on my wall and usually watch it at around a 12-foot distance which I believe is a good distance for a 46-inch TV. I am also using this TV as a monitor for a home theater PC which looks just as good as my other computer monitor, if not better. The only reason i didn't give this TV 5 stars is because of the built in speakersPROS
Matte screen finish (Reduces glare significantly which is a big plus when viewing in a room with lots of windows)
Built-in video up-scalar is awesome (I am always impressed when watching VHS and DVD movies.)
Power Consumption (Only 230 Watts powered)
Weight (Weight without the stand is less than 50 lbs which is light enough for me to lift it onto the wall by myself)
HDMI connections (3 HDMI connections seems plenty enough for the devices I have currently)
60,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio (twice as good as previous model)
CONS
Built in speakers (Speakers started to rattle and buzz after the volume was turned up to around 50. I would defiantly recommend a home audio system if you want to get the full movie experience)
Component video connections (I had to buy a component switch that could handle my component connections from my Wii, Playstation, and DVD player)


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LN46B530 46IN 1080P LCD 530Series

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Sony Bravia Z-Series KDL-46Z4100/B 46-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV, Black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have had a Westinghouse 1080p 42inch monitor for a few years and have really been pleased with it. However, with the new features on the market (120hz, 24p, etc) I was ready to upgrade. I initially ordered a Samsung LN46A550 46-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV. The picture was actually really good on this set, but the glare on the case was VERY annoying. It also lacked the features I was looking for in a new set, but I tried it out because the price was so good. The glare was too much to put up with, so I sent it back and started to research Sony's since they are one of the few sets on the market that you can still get without a glossy case.
I sure am glad that I found Bravia Z series! WIthout going up to an XBR, the Z series is the way to go. If you look at the specs - most of the high end features offered by the XBR are already in the Z series, so it is a really good value when viewed that way. It makes sense why the Z is not offered in a 52 inch size - it would probably really impact sales of the XBR. What a great looking TV (both the picture and the case). I have been extremely impressed with both the blacks on this LCD as well as the vivid colors it produces. The amount of picture calibration offered on this setup is remarkable - especially compared to my old Westinghouse. I find the 24p mode on Blue Ray disk to be quite impressive - it really adds a whole new level of enjoyment to watching Blue Ray movies. The 120hz mode is also wonderful when watching football. I really cannot say enough good things about this TV - spend the extra money that the Sony brand demands, and you get what you pay for.
Although I did not have the issue with this TV, there is a lot of discussion around the Internet about a sparkle issue that this TV has. Be advised that this was an issue, but Sony has released a firmware update that resolves the problem. I have done the update and everything is running great.
If you are on the fence between this and the Samsung LN46A650 (which is in the same feature class as the Sony), be aware that the Samsung has a very glossy screen - not to mention a sure to be dated red outline on the case. This really kills one of the great features of LCD's! The only Samsung I would even consider against this Sony is the Samsung LN46A550 46-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV, but it lacks 120hz, 24p, and has that hideous glossy case. It seems to me that there is no viable competitor to the Sony Bravia Z-Series KDL-46Z4100!
Another side note... When my TV was delivered they also picked up the Samsung for return. The delivery guys were telling me that they have to pickup Samsungs EVERY day because people are returning them. He said they have never had to pickup a Sony. This is proved if you look at the used/new link under the Samsung and Sony's - you will see tons of open box Amazon Warehouse Deals on the Samsungs - but none on the Sony's!

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LCD still not thin enough for you?Then look no further than the KDL-Z4100. With a striking slim bezel design, Motionflow' 120Hz for the reproduction of smooth, lifelike images, BRAVIA Engine 2' and ACE for a deeper blacks and better shadow detail, now your TV design matches the picture. Ready for the latest technology to go along with the design and picture- The KDL-Z4100 also include DLNA' compatability so you can access your digital photo collection over your home network (additional DLNA' components required; sold separately), and Sony's unique DMex and Digital Media Port technology.

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Samsung LNT4042H 40-Inch LCD HDTV Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I just got this TV set up in my home last evening and I couldn't be more pleased with it. For an "entry level" LCD HDTV, it displays an excellent picture- even on the standard cable channels! The High-def channels are absolutely beautiful. Overall the picture is very crisp and bright (VERY bright at the factory back light setting of 10; had to turn it down a few notches) and the colors are perfect as far as I'm concerned. While I'm sure extreme videophiles will disagree, I can't find any faults with this TV and would recommend it to anyone who's in the market for a flat-panel HDTV in this size and/or price range.

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For anyone looking for a great value on a 720p HDTV, Samsung's 2007 model LNT4042H 40-inch flat-panel LCD is an excellent choice. As Samsung's entry level 40-inch LCD, it offers a 7000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, a 170-degree viewing angle, an 8ms response time panel, 3 HDMI inputs, and SRS TruSurroundXT from two side speakers. Between the design update, the aditional connections, and improved contrast ratio this model represents a distinct improvement on the popular comperable 40-inch Samsung from 2006 (LNS4041D).

The Samsung Digital Natural Image engine (DNIe) Video Enhancer refines all analog NTSC and wideband video inputs for an overall improvement in picture quality. DNIe improves contrast, white level, picture detail and incorporates digital noise reduction to improve lower quality video inputs. The 3D Y/C digital comb filter constantly analyzes the three dimensions of picture height, picture width, and picture changes-over-time to dramatically reduce edge image artifacts while improving transition detail.
High-quality virtual surround sound can be experienced with just the speakers built into the TV. SRS TruSurround XT technology delivers an amazing, simulated 3D effect with clear dialog and powerful bass through hidden side speakers. TruSurround XT audio adds three audio enhancement technologies to produce an amazingly immersive sound experience.
Dialog Clarity brings movie dialog into Focus during the playback of any surround-encoded material to make speech much clearer and crisper.
TruBass creates incredible deep rich bass allowing a person to perceive significantly deeper, richer low bass tones that are far beyond the physical low frequency capabilities of the speaker itself.
The SRS WOW feature widens the soundstage by processing standard two-channel stereo material as well as multi-channel encoded material for a dramatic improvement in the playback of any stereo audio over a two-speaker system.

Connections:
HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) 3
RF in 1
Component (Y/Pb/Pr) in 2
S-Video input 2(1 side/1 rear)
A/V input 2(1 side/1 rear)
PC input 1
Headphone jack 1

What's in the box: Samsung LNT4042H LCD TV, remote control, 2 AAA batteries, Power Cord, stand, cleaning cloth, owners manual, warranty card.

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Sony BRAVIA W-Series KDL-52W4100 52-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LCD HDTV Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this TV in June 2008 and have found it to be an absolutely great buy. I bought my at RC Willey. Yes, I read the CNET review and the reviewer marked down the TV because of the dark shades changing. I looked at this in the store for several minutes and have lived with it for a month and have not noticed that problem at ALL! Personally I think they guy shot down the SONY because Samsung is running TV advertisements on CNET. This is a super sharp TV with excellent colors and deep deep blacks. This TV is much better than the old 2007 W. Here is why I bought this TV...It is super clear in digital broadcast and does a much better job in Analog/420p SD (old) transmitions than any other TV I have seen (no jaggies..thanks to Sony noise reduction/DSP). Sony knows Bluray- they invented it, they know what skin tones should look like like (they own a movie studio), thier menus are really easy/simple to use (vs. Samsung 650), it has a built in TV guide (You can get rid of that Monthly cable box fee) and it has future expansion capability.
On pure picture quality vs. Samsung 650:
* Picture: It is pretty darn close in digital broadcast. I looked at both side by side. Samsung has a slight edge on clarity in analog broadcast. Samsungs have more glare, Sony is a matte screen but blacks on samsung are pretty darn good because of the glossy screen. When viewing a BluRay DVD though, the Sony slightly more details. No fade from bright to black issues on sony as noted by CNET (he must have had a protype system). Colors are nice a bright and bravia 2 engine is even better than XBR4 or near it. I have heard the Z series may be better but they don't make it in 52'' yet.

* Menus: Samsungs menus are made for Engineers (lots of tweeks, but really confusing for average user). If you doubt it, download the user manual to the A650 and KDL524100 and see for yourself. If you and your family are highly technical, go for the Samsung. If you don't want to fiddle (aka get lost in menus), but get an excellent picture, go with the Sony. Sony's are really simple and easy to use, plus it automatically find digital channels and is somehow able to display all the channel icons (it is like I have a built in cable box).
* Features: The Sony may not have the Ethernet and built in weather/news of the 650 Samsung, but it does have the built in TV guide and future expansion. Realistically, if you want Internet in your TV, you are better off connecting an external device (Playstation, Apple TV, etc). The TV guide feature in the sony is great and the Bravia Sync is a big plus (especially when you use a Sony DVD upconverter 1080p (nice one at costco)- why?...TV remote controls it all. Sony Picture n' Picture is nice as well allowing you to view pictures/video from HDMI while at the same time viewing cable TV (regardless if it is SD or HD signal)
* Asthetics: My favorite feature on the sony is that the power buttons on on the top of the TV... helps with preventing kids from turning tV on/off. I believe Samsungs are too low. I personally didn't like the Red on the Samsung and the glossy screen. The remote on the Sony is really easy to find/use vs. the Samsung. But the Samsung's remote lit up at night...which the Sony's does not.
Bottom line: if you are a videophile and your family (wife) can deal with the techno menus (plus you want to upgrade the firmware to fix the Samsung A650 on/off bug), get the Samsung. If you want the a super clear Picture (videophile made easy), easiest to use LCD with features that make every day TV viewing smooth and easy... The sony is excellent- Plus it is future expandible.
Recommended Evaluation settings: Picture mode custom, backlight 7, Picture 95, Brightness 45, Color 50, Hue 0, Color temp Neutral, Sharpness 4, Noise Red. off, MPEG Noise red. off, Advanced settings-> Black corrector: med, Advance C.E Med, Gamma off, clear white low.

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Ready for a TV and a technology that will change the way you see TV and movies?Sony's 1080p KDL-52W4100 with Motionflow™ 120Hz technology creates a new standard for picture performance, with smooth, lifelike image quality that responds to the demands of even the fastest moving images with ease. Add to that unique features like the enhanced Xross Media Bar with 3D graphics and integrated TV Guide program information, built-in DMex functionality, and other picture quality technologies like BRAVIA Engine 2™ and ACE contrast enhancement, and you can see why we call the W-series the new standard in 120Hz performance.

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Samsung LNT4065F 40-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I had recently purchased the Samsung LN-S4095D 40" 1080p LCD HDTVfrom Amazon, but it had a good amount of back light issues exactly like the Sony XBR's. I have read that it sometimes goes away by itself after a few weeks of use. But after 3 weeks it was still cloudy. I shipped it back and received a full refund. I'd heard that the LNT-series of Samsung's were coming out in March and that the problem had been resolved. After many in store demo's at BB and CC by asking the sales associates to hook up a blu-ray 1080p DVD (luckily they all had "Happy Feet" so they were exactly the same movie compared) I product tested the Samsung LNT4061F 40" 1080p LCD HDTV, the LNT4065F, and LNT4066. Along with two Sony's that caught my eye Sony KDL-40XBR2 40" Bravia XBR 1080p LCD HDTV,Sony KDL-40V2500 40" Bravia V-Series 1080p LCD HDTV. All were within my price range. But the Sony V2500 wasn't even close to standing with the Samsung LNT's. The XBR2 is great, but watch out for clouding which Sony will NOT admit is a problem, I recommend googling the XBR clouding problem before buying from SONY. If you're looking for the best all around TV (price, sound, picture quality, no CLOUDING, hook-up versatility(3x HDMI)) then the LNT4065 is the perfect TV for you. It has hidden side speakers that sound very rich and full. If you already have a sound system and prefer a matte finish to your TV get the LNT4061. The LNT4061 has poor sound from its hidden bottom speaker, but the matte screen is excellent to prevent glare. The LNT4065 has a semi-gloss screen, which makes the 15K:1 contrast ratio look amazing! I haven't had any glare problems at all. The only difference between the LNT4065 and LNT4066 is that the 66 has a different chasis. The internals are all the same. I've confirmed this through extensive research. The 65 has buttons on the top of it, while the 66 has pressure sensitive buttons on the bottom left corner. Not worth the extra money to me. PS2 and Gamecube games look fantastic on it. I don't have a Wii or PS3 to try on it yet, but I'll submit another review when I do. This TV is so versatile. So many features for sound, gaming, and picture quality. You can adjust everything you want. LCD is the only way to go, with this TV you get the CR of plasma without the ghosting! This is the TV to buy!
Big plus to Amazon. I bought the TV for $2199 and saw that a week later it was 1905 and they refunded the difference.
JUNE 5, 2007 UPDATE: I purchased a PS3 and a Wii and both look fantastic! The 1080p HDMI 1.3 look crystal clear, I've played Fear(720p), and Ninja Gaiden (1080p). The 1080p upconverting that the PS3 does with the recent firmware upgrade makes all of my regular DVD's look great, and my PS2 games look just as good. The Wii only uses RCA but it looks great with 480i. Zelda and the Wii Sports look fantastic. Having three HDMI ports really comes in handy with a PS3 and DirecTV (HDMI 1080i).

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For people looking to step up to full 1080p resolution in a 40-inch flat-panel LCD, Samsung's 2007 model LNT4065F is a good choice. Besides offering full 1080p resolution the LNT4065F also features a 15,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio for rich blacks and subltle tecture display, an 8ms response time panel for smooth motion, hidden side speakers, an NTSC tuner, and 3 HDMI ports.
Compared to other Samsung Models The primary differences between Samsung's LNT4065F and the lower priced LNT4061F LCD HDTV is in the contrast ratio and video processing power. Where this model offers a 15,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and a 10-bit video processor, the LNT4061F has a 10,000:1 ratio, with an 8-bit video processor. The LNT4065F should display finer gradients of shading making for more detail in darker scenes. The video processing difference should ensure smoothermotion in fast moving scenes.
Image Processing The Samsung Digital Natural Image engine (DNIe) Video Enhancer refines all analog NTSC and wideband video inputs for an overall improvement in picture quality. DNIe improves contrast, white level, picture detail and incorporates digital noise reduction to improve lower quality video inputs. The 3D Y/C digital comb filter constantly analyzes the three dimensions of picture height, picture width, and picture changes-over-time to dramatically reduce edge image artifacts while improving transition detail.
Audio Features High-quality virtual surround sound can be experienced with just the speakers built into the TV. SRS TruSurround XT technology delivers an amazing, simulated 3D effect with clear dialog and powerful bass through hidden side speakers. TruSurround XT audio adds three audio enhancement technologies to produce an amazingly immersive sound experience.
Dialog Clarity brings movie dialog into Focus during the playback of any surround-encoded material to make speech much clearer and crisper.
TruBass creates incredible deep rich bass allowing a person to perceive significantly deeper, richer low bass tones that are far beyond the physical low frequency capabilities of the speaker itself.
The SRS WOW feature widens the soundstage by processing standard two-channel stereo material as well as multi-channel encoded material for a dramatic improvement in the playback of any stereo audio over a two-speaker system.

What's in the box: Samsung LNT4665F 40-inch 1080P LCD TV, remote control, 2 AAA batteries, Power Cord, cleaning cloth, owners manual, warranty card.

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VIZIO E370VP 37 Inch Class Edge Lit Razor LED LCD HDTV Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Since there are no reviews yet for this product, I'm going to write this review sooner than I normally would and then update after I've lived with this TV for a while. My unit was damaged in shipping but a replacement is on the way courtesy of Amazon so I am using it in the meantime. Like other reviews I've read for this size, I'm choosing a 37" unit because it fits in my cabinet perfectly. If I did not have that constraint, I would definitely purchase a 42" as there are many more choices in that size range from more brands. As a point of reference, I own 4 year old Sony Bravia LCD TV also and have been very happy with that TV and brand. If Sony made this size I would have purchased another Sony.
Here are my thoughts on this TV...
Pro's:
- The picture. Stunning. Really great picture. Smooth. Looks at least as good if not better than the Sony in the other room. Great performance on high speed motion shots.
- Menus and navigation. Very intuitive, easy to use and navigate. I haven't had to use the manual once. Easy plug and play.
- Size. Nice and thin. Easy swivel stand. Looks very modern.
- Lots of connections in the back. They are listed on the Amazon product page so I won't repeat here, but pretty much whatever you need is on the back... plenty of HDMI ports, etc. Fast HDMI switching when you go between inputs.
Negatives:
- I think at this price point, some sort of internet connectivity should be included. If this were in the $450 range I'd get it, but at the current price, I'm left thinking this isn't the greatest value.
- Sound. WOW. Most reviewers on most LCD TV's complain about the sound. I assumed that things were getting better and that sound would be at least as good as my four year old Sony. Not so. It's worse. No base and just disappointing sound. I know that most people hook these up to external speakers, but if you're looking for a set where you don't need to do that, you might want to keep shopping.
- The remote. CHEAP. Seriously, the free remote from Comcast is nicer. Come on, Vizio, invest a little in the remote. Most people at this price point and size aren't going to be buying a universal remote I'm guessing. Would be nice to have something better. The buttons are very small, poorly laid out, and do not illuminate. I'll be using my Comcast and Apple TV remotes but be warned, this remote is disappointing.
Overall it feels like this TV should be in the 450 price range and likely I'm guessing it will be promoted down to that once it's been on the market a little while (it's brand new as I'm writing this). Again, I need this for a specific sized cabinet so I'm going to keep it. True, the most important thing is excellent picture, which this TV has, but these days we consumers expect a bit more, like decent sound and a remote that's not so Fisher Price. This reminds me of a TV I'd see in a hotel room. At this price I think you can probably do better.
Hope this is helpful.
UPDATE 6/25... so the "dent" in the front speaker is a design feature!?! Amazon replaced the original unit with another Vizio which has the dent in the same place, right next to the Vizio logo on the front... you can see it on the Amazon page if you zoom into this area. One of my friends described the dent as looking really cheap. I'll have to see if I get used to it but think it's a ridiculous design feature on the speaker in a very visible location.
Update 6/28: I added a modestly-priced Logitech sound system Logitech THX-Certified Speaker System Z623 and I'm really pleased with it... the TV remote adjusts the volume level on the Logitech when plugged into the jack on the back of the TV, and it makes for a nice system with great quality sound.


Click Here to see more reviews about: VIZIO E370VP 37 Inch Class Edge Lit Razor LED LCD HDTV


May 2011As impressive as it is thin, VIZIO's E370VP 37-inch LED LCD HDTV features full 1080p high-definition resolution, Razor LED backlighting for a great picture and slim design, SRS audio technologies for virtual surround sound and volume smoothing, and energy-efficient operation that exceeds ENERGY STAR 4.1 guidelines. On top of all that, you'll be able to enjoy your JPEG photos from connected USB devices, and no matter what you're watching you'll get a striking 200,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio.
The E370VP proves that a great picture doesn't necessarily mean a huge price tag.

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Sony Bravia N-Series KDL-26N4000 26-Inch 720p LCD TV, Black Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this TV through Amazon from JR Music Co.for $449.00 just before Christmas. They said in their e-mail response to my order that although the TV was new and factory fresh they would open it and add extra packing. I wondered since it had already made it from Mexico to NYC why extra packing was necessary.
I found no extra packing when I opened the box and when I turned on the TV the blank screen had an arc of light about an inch wide from the edge of the screen to just past the middle. My suspicions were heightened.
But after finally adjusting the picture I am more than pleased. I am a subscriber to Directv. I've never seen such vivid colors even on stations that are not High Def. The screen looks like an expensive glossy photograph. I am mesmerized by the colors and the sound is so good I watched an hour and half performance by the Vienna Philharmonic Ochestra on PBS last night without having to turn on my stereo.
The day I ordered this tv from Amazon for $449.00 and no shipping charges I checked Costco and their price was $749.00 plus $25.00 shipping. I am very happy with my Sony 26N4000 television.


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Samsung DTBH260F HDTV Terrestrial Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This item has been hard to find in stores and online. After being waitlisted with Amazon for some time, I finally ordered it from another large electronics vendor that offerred free shipping, but I had to pay sales tax.
Last year I purchased two HDTV's (without built in tuners) thinking I would always get HD from my cable company. When I totaled up the cost of HD on cable with all of the extra boxes and fees, over-the-air HD for the price of a tuner seemed like a much more reasonable alternative.
The tuner was not difficult to hook up. I used an inexpensive HDMI cable (purchased off the web), regular rabbit ears/UHF antenna and plugged the tuner directly into my TV. (Remember to flip the switch on the back of the unit and to set your TV to HDMI input.) According to the manual, audio is supposed to be transmitted to the TV through the HDMI cable, but my TV does not accept dolby 5.1 surround sound. I had to change the audio setting on the unit to PCM to get sound out of the TV. Alternatively, I got stereo sound by running separate audio cables (included with the unit) to my home theater unit.
Being at an age where I grew up with over the air TV and recalling that we continually had to adjust the rabbit ears to improve the picture, I was astounded by the quality of the signal. The transmission towers are about 19 miles away and I was getting all bars on the signal strength. No fidgiting with the rabbit ears was required and the picture has no ghosting. Clearly, this is not the over the air TV of the 60's and 70's.
In addition to the HD shows, I'm also getting a 720 digital signal on most of the non-HD programming, which is a big improvement over the 480 analog. The improvement is so good, I'm thinking of getting another tuner for my other hd-ready TV.
I do have a couple of small complaints. As noted by other reviewers, the channels seem to change very slowly using the remote and you need very good aim. And, don't lose the remote because you cannot change the channel without it. Another reviewer noted that it takes a bit of time for the unit to boot up when first turned on, which I can also confirm. He also noted that the unit gets very hot, which is NOT my experience.
Happy viewing!

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HDTV Terrestrial Tuner. Samsung brings you great flexibility for delivering FREE over-the-air digital television signals to a DTVready television or DTV-capable computer monitors.

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