Thursday, January 8, 2009

Sony Bravia XBR KDL-52XBR6 52-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV

Review of Sony Bravia XBR KDL-52XBR6 52-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV:

This was a big jump up. The last TV was a 6 year old 20 inch JVC tube, so you might think we would be easy to dazzle. Nevertheless I did a lot of research before springing for this one. Got it to watch DVDs; we don't have cable or dish, just an indoor antenna. We were really surprised at all the new (digital) channels we got, even without upgrading our antenna --so don't be hasty in assuming you need to have an outdoor antenna, cable, etc., especially if you are in a metropolitan area.

The old analog stations (say, channel 9) come in pathetically, but usually there are other stations associated with each number. For example, we now get digital 9.1, 9.2 and 9.3 --three different programs where we used to get one. This was all a pleasant surprise. We got digital versions of all the old channels and 7-8 new ones. We even get a San Jose station that we haven't seen in years.

Everything on the digital channels is gorgeous. When I was shopping I saw big HDTVs where the non-HD picture was stretched and distorted, but you don't have to set it that way. You can set it so that each program comes in at its optimal picture quality. Some day, hopefully, it will all be HD, but the SD stuff looks pretty good on this set! As for the Bravia XBR6 specifically, great black-blacks, but your detail within shadows is not sacrificed. It came set to "vivid" color setting, but I find the standard setting more natural. REally stunning picture! Haven't watched any blu-ray disks yet (no player) but the standard DVDs look fabulous!

This was a big purchase but I am very happy with it. And--at least in the SF Bay area-- delivery was faster than projected and the CEVA white glove service was fine. They do not connect your components for you but they do put it on a stand and power it up so you can be sure all your pixels, sound, etc, function. ~By Terry94705 (Berkeley CA)

Sony Bravia XBR KDL-52XBR6 52-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV
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Thursday, January 1, 2009

Samsung Touch Of Color T220HD 22-inch LCD HDTV Monitor

Features of Samsung Touch Of Color T220HD 22-inch LCD HDTV Monitor:

  • Touch of Color bezel - While the crystal-like bezel frame catches light beautifully, it actually reduces reflection of light off the bezel. And since the rich red color is injection molded for a blown glass effect, instead of spray painted, there is less environmental impact. It's easy on your eyes as well as on the environment
  • Dolby Digital Surround (3 W x 2 ch) An invisible speaker system with Dolby Digital Surround (3 W x 2 ch) gives sound quality to match the impressive picture.
  • 10,000 - 1 Dynamic-Contrast Ratio - The ultra-wide range gives you blacks and whites that are full of detail, even under adverse lighting conditions (typically 1,000 - 1 static-contrast ratio)
  • 300 cdm2 Brightness
  • Full HDTV monitor - The T220HD features a built-in full HD 1080p digital HDTV tuner, so you can watch both TV and HDTVDual HDMI inputs, DVI and VGA inputs / 2 HDMI connections
Samsung Touch Of Color T220HD 22-inch LCD HDTV Monitor
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Thursday, December 25, 2008

Samsung LN46A630 46-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV with Red Touch of Color

Imagine what it would be like to watch your favorite movies and TV programs in bold, brilliant color, with images that come to life. With this SAMSUNG LCD TV you can have it all. Exclusive Touch of Color design adds remarkable beauty and with 1920x1080p resolution, picture quality has never been sharper. Auto Motion Plus 120Hz keeps action-packed sports and movies real with smooth transitions. Experience the latest in high definition with the SAMSUNG LN46A630 LCD TV.

Review of Samsung LN46A630 46-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV with Red Touch of Color:

After reading reviews in Cnet and Consumer Reports, and feedback from owners on the AVS board, I knew I wanted to get a Samsung LCD. But which one? The 550, 630 and 650 are all highly rated, and all fell within my price range.

I first looked at the 550. Great TV and the lowest price. The picture quality was top-notch, but it did not have the 120hz technology and Samsung's smoothing system (called AMP) to reduce motion judder. In side-by-side viewing, I could see a difference in the picture with those features, and, since the price difference was not much, decided to move up to the 6-series.

Keep in mind that 120hz and AMP are two different things. You can turn AMP off (or set it to low, medium or high); you can't turn off 120hz unless you are in game mode. I like AMP set at low -- to my eye, that improves the picture without making it too smooth and video-like.

Both the 650 and 630 are fantastic TVs, and either one would be a great choice. The major difference between the two is the glassiness of the screen - the 650 has a high gloss screen; the 630 has a matte screen (basically the same as the 550, but with a tiny bit more gloss). I have a very bright living room with lots of windows. The 650 acted like a mirror, reflecting everything to the point of being seriously distracting -- you can see yourself in the screen in dark scenes. The 630 was the perfect compromise -- better quality picture than the 550, but far less gloss than the 650.

The advantage of the glossy screen is that it give more "pop" and saturation to the picture. Colors are deeper, blacks are richer, and the overall picture quality is a bit better. If I was using the TV in a darker environment (such as a basement), I'd go for the 650. But given the brightness of the room, the 630 was (for me) the better choice.

I've been told the sound quality in the 6-series is a bit better than the 5-series. That was not an issue for me since I turn off the TV speakers and run the sound through a receiver. If you plan on using the TV speakers you may want to listen to both sets to see if you hear a difference.

Very pleased with the set so far. You need to do a bit of tweaking to get the picture perfect, but the menus make it easy to do so. You can find configuration setups on several boards that will help point you in the right direction.

Other pluses of the 630 are the more muted Touch of Red in the bezel. I'm not a big fan of the red color, so having it less visible is a plus. Very nice remote with easy to find buttons.

I'm using the set with a Denon 1909 receiver, an Oppo 983H DVD player, and KEF 3000 series speakers. Everything works great together and I'm continually wowed by how great it looks and sounds. ~By Comdet

Samsung LN46A630 46-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV with Red Touch of Color
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Thursday, December 18, 2008

Toshiba 22LV505 22-Inch 720p LCD HDTV with Built-in DVD Player

Review of Toshiba 22LV505 22-Inch 720p LCD HDTV with Built-in DVD Player:

This HDTV is an ideal size for my Study/Home Office (similar to a small bedroom). The video quality is excellent with only basic cable (no set-top box) "out of the wall". It displays HD and digital signals from high to low: 1080i; 720p; 480i depending on what level a given station is broadcasting. You can see the slight differences in quality, but all are sharp and clear. The Analog signals also look better than on an "old-fashioned" TV, just not as sharp as the lowest quality DTV signal. DVD's play very easily and the video quality is super.

One minor gripe (as others have mentioned), the audio quality is only adequate (at least compared to the home theater quality many of us are now used to). I've found the volume range to be more than satisfactory for a small to mid-size room; I keep it right at the middle volume level for most all programs. Considering the size and price range of this DTV, I think this level of audio performance is probably reasonable. However, by adding a modest 2.1 "computer" speaker system (plugged into the headphone output), I now have a thoroughly enjoyable audio experience to enhance the set's excellent video. Problem solved by a minimal $25 add-on.

And what a delightful shopping experience from Amazon--I found exactly what I was looking for; the price was the best anywhere; NO shipping or tax charges; and it arrived 1 day early in PERFECT condition! ~By shopdiva (Albuquerque, NM USA)

Toshiba 22LV505 22-Inch 720p LCD HDTV with Built-in DVD Player
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Monday, November 24, 2008

Samsung Touch of Color T260HD 26-Inch LCD HDTV Monitor

Beautiful inside and out, the Samsung Touch Of Color T260HD LCD monitor is a great way to get the most out of your PC--as well as watch your favorite 1080p HDTV broadcasts. It features an embedded DTV tuner that enables you to watch digital HD broadcasts without a special receiving set. And with six image input terminals, you can connect several pieces of digital equipment to the T260HD and use them simultaneously. Two HDMI connections make your monitor a multimedia centerpiece. Additionally, SRS TruSurround XT is embedded to improve audio performance.

The contrast between light and dark colors on the screen is what makes images stand out. The bigger the difference between light and dark images, the more vibrant images will appear. With an amazing dynamic contrast ratio of 10,000:1 you’ll enjoy sharper image quality that’s sure to catch your eye. You'll also make a style statement with Samsung's new Touch of Color design, which features a hint of color naturally blended into the traditional piano black frame.

The T260HD is designed to be extremely efficient and uses up to a third less power than other monitors in its class. The unique SoftPower off function lets you put the monitor in standby mode right away, using just 0.3 W of power. It comes with a monitor stand that can tilt up to 20 degrees for optimal viewing and a full-feature remote control. The monitor's speakers reside underneath the screen and provide a total of 6 watts of audio power (3 watts per channel).

Samsung Touch of Color T260HD 26-Inch LCD HDTV Monitor
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Thursday, November 20, 2008

Peerless ST650P Tilting Wall Mount for 32" to 50" Flat Panel Displays (Black)

The SmartMount for 32" to 50" flat panel screens provides a versatile and secure solution for professional environments such as boardrooms, hotels and stadiums. This mount offers smooth, continuous one touch tilt, allowing for easy adjustment to achieve the perfect viewing angle without tools. The mount includes simple to align universal brackets and a unique wall plate that can be mounted to two wood studs up to 24" apart, concrete, cinder block or two metal studs (accessory required). For easy installation the mount is preassembled and includes a Sorted-For-You™ baffle pack with all screen hardware and security fasteners.

Peerless ST650P Tilting Wall Mount for 32
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Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Sony Bravia XBR KDL-46XBR6 46-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV

Performance takes center stage with the KDL-46XBR6 BRAVIA XBR(R) LCD flat panel HDTV. Chock full of features including HD 1080p Resolution and Motionflow 120Hz technology that provide smooth, natural images. Plus, BRAVIA Engine fully Digital Video Processing enhances overall image detail making every scene sharp, vibrant and life-like. You'll notice deeper blacks with Advanced Contrast Enhancer (ACE), while 24p True Cinema capability helps deliver the cinematic experience when used with 24p Output devices, such as a Blu-Ray Disc player. There are also numerous inputs including four HDMI connections, two HD Component connections, Digital Media Port and a PC input that offer you a wide range of Connectivity options. And with the gorgeous piano gloss black finish, you'll be wondering if the view is nicer with the TV on or off.

Review of Sony Bravia XBR KDL-46XBR6 46-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV:

“As the title states, this set is simply amazing. This set is replacing my 32" KDL-32S3000, which was also a fantastic TV, just a little too small for my new residence.
Anyway, the color is gorgeous, and the picture quality is astounding. The sound is alright, as is to be expected from small in-cabinet speakers. Sony's PS3-esq menu system is a nice touch. The TV actually uses the second revision of it, so it makes a little more sense on this one than it did on the older models.
Feature set is great as well. Sony has a lot of nice little touches on this unit really help it stand out. The logo glows, for example, but you can shut it off. In the off setting, it still lights up when the TV is powered on or off, but it gently fades out after a few seconds. Ambient light sensor to control the brightness is a nice, as well as the built-in (and free) TV Guide (though I presume this would be less useful for folks using a cable box).
The remote is nice - just like the rest of the bravia line, and it has a programmable backlight too. It will function as a universal remote, and has the buttons to control a VCR or DVD player as well.
All in all, this is a fantastic set, and I'm very excited to continue to use it.” --By Gregory K. (San Jose, CA, USA)

Sony Bravia XBR KDL-46XBR6 46-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV
If you want to buy this product, you can click the image or click here for more information