Hot Deal: Philips 32" LCD

[MacAttack]

Link

This TV is $999 at Best Buy. You can get the same version with a grey cabinet from BJ's Wholesale for $799. I compared several TVs at BB this weekend. This TV was better than LG, Sharp, HP, Panasonic, and Toshiba. Without a doubt, the Samsung and Sony are probably better, but for almost $500 more, there is no comparison. I have it hooked up to an XBox 360. Games are amazing, especially the dark scenes on Gears of War. There are no ghosting issues at all. I played LotR: FotR from DVD and the blacks were awesome (configured with Avia). The only downside, is any SD channel looks mediocre at best. However, no one buys an HDTV to watch SD channels anyway.

Pros:
$799. If I had $450+ more to spend I would have gotten the Samsung.
2400:1 true contrast ratio (watch out for B&M's artificial contrast ratios)
Excellent picture in HD

Cons:
Limited inputs (1x HDMI, 2x Component). But for a gaming and secondary TV, who cares
Mediocre SD quality
Gray cabinet if that matters to you.

 

[Scarpozzi]

One more point though.....Best Buy tends to be a little on the high side when it comes to TV pricing... Shop around for model comparison....

 

[SignalSoldier]

Doesnt phillips have issues with their TV division? They are always having refurbs in stock....somebody confirm quality please

 

[Shyatic]

*agrees with SignalSoldier*

I'd rather spend $100 more and get a set that isn't prone to problems. The deal is warm I think, at best.

 

[nvmyz71]

I'd stay away from Phillips... I've had very bad experiences and they have a bad reputation.

 

[us3rnotfound]

Originally posted by: nvmyz71
I'd stay away from Phillips... I've had very bad experiences and they have a bad reputation.

So Sceptre and Westinghouse are better?

 

[QueBert]

Westinghouse makes great sets. I don't care what anybody says. On Black Friday my GF got a 42" & a 27" Westy LCDs for $1500 out the door and they both look killer. I can't comment on Sceptre's but as far as Westinghouse that will be the Television I buy when I buy one.

And I disagree with OP, there are tons of non HD channels, you can't buy an HDTV and expect 100% HD programming. So SD quality should be an issue, maybe not a huge one, but you will be watching SD content more then likely.

 

[BadThad]

Originally posted by: QueBert
Westinghouse makes great sets. I don't care what anybody says. On Black Friday my GF got a 42" & a 27" Westy LCDs for $1500 out the door and they both look killer. I can't comment on Sceptre's but as far as Westinghouse that will be the Television I buy when I buy one.

And I disagree with OP, there are tons of non HD channels, you can't buy an HDTV and expect 100% HD programming. So SD quality should be an issue, maybe not a huge one, but you will be watching SD content more then likely.

I've heard a lot of good things about Westinghouse. I bought their 22" WS LCD on BF for $199 and couldn't be happier. Looks good and plays FPS games flawlessly.

 

[breweyez]

I luv my sceptre 32" LCD

 

[Odeen]

Kind of irrelevant to the deal, but Sharp has a reputation for being a level above Sony and Samsung, in terms of black levels and color accurary. Samsung has non-defeatable picture "enhancements" (DNIE) that are a part of its agreement with Sony for shared LCD panel manufacturing.

Just what I've picked up while shopping for LCD TV's...

 

[bennylong]

Sharp LCD any good? A 37 inch is $100 cheaper than a 32 inch Philip. I'm thinking about replacing my 21 inch LCD TV which I only bought last year for $900 . Damn, price sure dropped in less than 1 year.

Sharp LC-37D6U AQUOS 37in Flat Panel LCD HDTV $899,

http://www.onsale.com/shop/detail~dpno~...+37%22+HD-Ready+Flat+Panel+LCD+TV.aspx

 

[Kabob]

Originally posted by: bennylong
Sharp LCD any good? A 37 inch is $100 cheaper than a 32 inch Philip. I'm thinking about replacing my 21 inch LCD TV which I only bought last year for $900 . Damn, price sure dropped in less than 1 year.

Sharp LC-37D6U AQUOS 37in Flat Panel LCD HDTV $899,

http://www.onsale.com/shop/detail~dpno~...+37%22+HD-Ready+Flat+Panel+LCD+TV.aspx

Normally the Aquos is up there but 800:1 contrast ratio is really weak! Also, I'm not sure how safe buying from onsale.com is, I've never heard of them before.

 

[MacAttack]

The Aquos has very bad ghosting issues on Xbox 360. That is why I didn't go that route.

 

[Richardito]

Originally posted by: nvmyz71
I'd stay away from Phillips... I've had very bad experiences and they have a bad reputation.

I have experience with their warranty department and warranty dealers. Believe me, stay away from Philips. This TV is overpriced anyways...

 

[Richardito]

Originally posted by: kabob983

Originally posted by: bennylong
Sharp LCD any good? A 37 inch is $100 cheaper than a 32 inch Philip. I'm thinking about replacing my 21 inch LCD TV which I only bought last year for $900 . Damn, price sure dropped in less than 1 year.

Sharp LC-37D6U AQUOS 37in Flat Panel LCD HDTV $899,

http://www.onsale.com/shop/detail~dpno~...+37%22+HD-Ready+Flat+Panel+LCD+TV.aspx

Normally the Aquos is up there but 800:1 contrast ratio is really weak! Also, I'm not sure how safe buying from onsale.com is, I've never heard of them before.

OnSale is a very reputable company.

 

[Kabob]

Hrm, really? Seem to have decent prices, mayhaps I'll find something that tickles my fancy eventually.

And also, do all AQUOS sets have ghosting issues with the 360 or just that particular model?

 

[Odeen]

Originally posted by: kabob983

Originally posted by: bennylong
Sharp LCD any good? A 37 inch is $100 cheaper than a 32 inch Philip. I'm thinking about replacing my 21 inch LCD TV which I only bought last year for $900 . Damn, price sure dropped in less than 1 year.

Sharp LC-37D6U AQUOS 37in Flat Panel LCD HDTV $899,

http://www.onsale.com/shop/detail~dpno~...+37%22+HD-Ready+Flat+Panel+LCD+TV.aspx

Normally the Aquos is up there but 800:1 contrast ratio is really weak! Also, I'm not sure how safe buying from onsale.com is, I've never heard of them before.

a) Sharp does not overrate their specifications. 800:1 means that at any one time it can display one pixel that's 800 times more luminous than another. The 5000:1 ratios you see from some LCD manufacturers are "dynamic" contrast - that is the ratio between a white pixel with full backlight, and a black pixel with the backlight at lowest setting. Naturally, you can't achieve a 5000:1 contrast ratio in the same scene.

b) The D6U series were released about 2 years ago, if I recall. When I first started shopping for an HDTV around September 2005, they were widely available. You're comparing an older high-end model to a newer low-end unit.

 

[bennylong]

Originally posted by: kabob983
Hrm, really? Seem to have decent prices, mayhaps I'll find something that tickles my fancy eventually.

And also, do all AQUOS sets have ghosting issues with the 360 or just that particular model?

I bought my 21 inch LCD from Onsale last year. Their customer service suck though. I tried to get a receipt so I can get free extended warranty from my credit card company and they never responsed to any of my email or phone call.

 

[Kabob]

Originally posted by: Odeen

a) Sharp does not overrate their specifications. 800:1 means that at any one time it can display one pixel that's 800 times more luminous than another. The 5000:1 ratios you see from some LCD manufacturers are "dynamic" contrast - that is the ratio between a white pixel with full backlight, and a black pixel with the backlight at lowest setting. Naturally, you can't achieve a 5000:1 contrast ratio in the same scene.

b) The D6U series were released about 2 years ago, if I recall. When I first started shopping for an HDTV around September 2005, they were widely available. You're comparing an older high-end model to a newer low-end unit.

Question about a)

Does Westinghouse do the same thing (post true contrast ratios)? Their contrast ratio's always seem to be around the 1000 - 1200:1 level as well.

 

[s44]

Sceptre/Westy are the same display, just different secondary stuff. Also, the larger Sharp LCDs all seem to have a "banding" problem, which is too bad as the picture otherwise looks great. Smaller Sharp units (42" and down, I think) don't seem to have the problem, but they may be using the same Chinese OEM as Sceptre/Westinghouse for these units!

 

[Odeen]

Originally posted by: kabob983
Question about a)

Does Westinghouse do the same thing (post true contrast ratios)? Their contrast ratio's always seem to be around the 1000 - 1200:1 level as well.

1200:1 seems reasonable for a new panel, methinks.

But IANAHTE (I Am Not a Home Theater Expert)

 

[Kabob]

But I see Sony LCD's with 8000:1 + contrast ratios (which are probably dynamic). Didn't know what a "general standard" for a decent contrast ratio is on an LCD