LCD TV's - How Much Better Are The Big Name Brands?

EdwardWouldWood on 17/02/2010 - 21:35

Hi,
I'm looking to buy a new LCD TV. I've managed to work my way through all the technical jargon and think that I have a fairly good idea of what it all means.

My question now is about whether or not I should splash out the extra cash for a Sony or similar, or go for one of the cheaper brands like Kogan, Soniq or HiSense. Is there really much difference in the quality or are you really just paying for the brand name?

I went to a friends place last night and he had just bought a HiSense and it looked ok to me.

Any comments?

Thanks.
E

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • stumo on 17/02/2010 - 21:42

    I'm interested too, probably wait until later in the year when Sony do a PS3 LCD deal, so I guess I'll be going sony. But

    Go to somewhere like dick smiths, and see the TVs side by side. You will be blown away by how different manufacturers LCDs with roughly the same specs can be so different.

  • greenie4242 on 17/02/2010 - 23:04
    +1

    I just hacked my lower-end LG LCD TV to play DivX and MKV files using its USB port - absolutely fantastic if I do say so myself! I can now hook up a cheap external hard drive and play movies from it without having to buy another media box. It even plays 1080p H264 content. Google 'LG USB hack' for details. Not sure if any of the cheaper no-name brands have this capability either by default or via a hack. It takes some serious kit to play 1080p H264 files, which means even the cheaper LG TVs have high-powered electonics inside.

  • Iggsy81 on 17/02/2010 - 23:13
    +1

    How the hell did u do that??? I'd love to do that!

    As for OP.. I purchased a 32inch AWA 1080p tv a few months ago - it looked quite good in the store to me, once i got it home and compared it with my housemates Samsung though i thought the picture on the AWA was inferior - and i ended up takign it back. I got a Samsung too, myself - but it's funny, having had them both i think i overreacted in the first instance. The contrast on the AWA was too high.. it was hard to see fine differences within similar shades of colour if you know what i mean, but after tinkering with the settings a bit i had it more or less v similar to how my Samsung is now anyway.

    Basically my experience is that the dearer sets do look a bit better (particularly in contrast i noticed), but the cheaper sets can really be more than satisfactory. Especially if u dont mind tinkering with settings to find a display configuration you like. If i had my time over i would prolly have kept the cheaper AWA..

    I think really it just matters if YOU'RE happy with it or not.. dont worry about what other ppl claim, cos if u arent happy it will nag at you, if you are that's all that matters.

    So basically i can offer no help at all, LOL

  • Kranbone on 18/02/2010 - 12:39

    I'd probably feel comfortable with a more recognised brand myself. You really need to go in store to view the screen you buy to attain the differences between them. I myself have both a Samsung HD TV and a Sony Full HD TV and have been pleased by both.

    Generally the Samsung is cheaper and offers a longer warranty (this was the case when I bought mine) than Sony. Hope that helps.

  • ESEMCE on 18/02/2010 - 15:25

    The difference is in the electronics, rather than the panel.

    I recommend a projector though, much bigger screen.. :-)

  • ohsnap on 18/02/2010 - 15:45

    When I buy electrical products, I'd always rather go big name brands if only for the peace of mind. I don't think the difference is too big especially if you take into account the overall value of the item. A 40" no name LCD will cost you say, $800. I bought a 40" Bravia during the PS3 promo and it cost me $1100 after I sold the PS3.

    So I guess, if you're not in a rush then wait for a similar offer. Otherwise, I'd still buy a branded product for its (hopefully) longevity, quality and established after sales service.

    At the end of the day, I think it's entirely up to you depending on your budget, etc. Compare the picture quality in the shop and buy what suits your budget.

  • inherentchoice on 18/02/2010 - 21:40

    Well my ~$220 Dell 24" LCD monitor that I use as a secondary TV is streets better than the stone-age CRTs, but the 46" Samsung LED LCD series 9 that I also have is of course streets better than the Dell (but also about 18 times more expensive).

  • kimmik on 19/02/2010 - 21:23

    Both the electronics and the panel make a big difference.

    Before i bought my sony 46w i had a good look in store. And without the two being side by side, i could easily spot poor dithering patterns on a Hisense 46inch panel. which was tagged at only 1300 vs 2300 for the sony!

    Cheaper brands, unless proven to have high IQ, are not worth it if you ask me. Go have a good look in store, from the distance and close up. walk from side to side and see how the image fluctuates. Look at the back of the tv to check its quality of construction and inputs etc.

    There are enough specials on branded tvs to make cheapo stuff obsolete to the smart buyer.

  • EdwardWouldWood on 23/02/2010 - 13:45

    Thanks for your input guys.

    Without starting a flame war, I wonder what the best mainstream brands are then. My take is that the brands fall into the following bands in terms of quality.

    Top - Sony, Toshiba, Panasonic
    Medium - Samsung, Sharp, LG.
    Low - HiSense, Soniq.

    Anyone care to offer an informed opinion?

    Thanks
    E.

    • Iggsy81 on 23/02/2010 - 23:12

      Toshiba above Samsung, Sharp and LG?

      • EdwardWouldWood on 23/02/2010 - 23:23

        Based on the last two comments, probably not. Do you think Toshiba is on a par with those you mentioned or below them?

        • Iggsy81 on 24/02/2010 - 00:07

          Below, not a low tier but middle. I think Samsung and Sharp would be higher.. Nothing against Toshiba they aren't bad just wouldnt quite rate them as highly as the others. Personally i think Sammies are a good mix of value and quality.. although they are all coming down in price these days anyway i guess.

          I wonder what's gonna happen with 3dtv's????? I don't want to have to buy a new set within the next few years already!

          • EdwardWouldWood on 24/02/2010 - 00:24

            @Iggsy81: Same here. I have heard though that the 3D TV's will probably go through the same path as the original Plasma's and actually many take years before they hit a price-point where the average person would buy. But who really knows?

            Thanks for you feedback re the TV. My hand has been forced because my old TV died last week and I'm going into major withdrawl already :-(

  • Kranbone on 23/02/2010 - 15:20

    I've always felt the big brands were Sharp Samsung Sony LG-Phillips and Panasonic for LCDs.

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