• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

are there any consumer HDTV rating websites?

C

cheapgoose

Diamond Member
so I'm in the market for an HDTV, I've been to avsforum, googled, but can't seem to find what I need.

I'm looking for reviews or opinions on brands. like SOny > Toshiba > Panasonic.......

or maybe you guys can help. I'm trying to decide between either a Panasonic or Toshiba.
 
Both great brands. Depends on the model.

Perhaps you can give us a hint on your budget and viewing distance.
 
Panny for sure...the only brands I'd consider in the plasma industry are: Panasonic, Pioneer, Fujitsu, Sony, and maybe NEC.

I have a Panny TH42PX20U (42" HD plasma), and I love it. Never had a problem with it, blacks are VERY good, maybe a little red push (can be fixed with ISF Calibration).
Pioneer has a very good reputation--color saturation is very good, but blacks are little light.
Panasonic plasmas have the best blacks on the market--very deep, with little or no crush.
Fujitsu purportedly has the best color on the market, with good blacks as well, but a little expensive.
Sony plasmas are extremely expensive (sometimes $2000 more than competitive plasmas), but are still good displays, plus that floating glass bezel is sweet...
Some of the AVSforum guys swear by NEC. I haven't seen one in person so I can't say either way...

Something to consider: You can go and look at all these plasmas at a good shop, but be aware that most places (BB, CC, GG, etc) run their plasmas in "torch" mode -- maximum brightness and contrast, to attract buyers, but guaranteed to wear out your plasma VERY quickly. And when you do buy that plasma, be sure to tune the picture right away (turn brightness and contrast WAY down, and use a calibration disc like Digital Video Essentials or AVIA). Good luck!

EDIT: Just realized you weren't specifically looking at plasma displays. In terms of RPTVs or CRTs, I believe that Samsung has a really great reputation, especially with their DLP models. Mitsubishi is also another good company in the RPTV market.

Apex was right...viewing distance and budget are going to be very important determining factors as far as what you can/should buy. For most medium sized living rooms, a 50" is just about right (my 42" is in a small room, with a viewing distance of about 7 feet). What you don't want is to buy some huge screen for a short viewing distance, only to get a screen door effect.
 
Originally posted by: cheapgoose
so I'm in the market for an HDTV, I've been to avsforum, googled, but can't seem to find what I need.

I'm looking for reviews or opinions on brands. like SOny > Toshiba > Panasonic.......

or maybe you guys can help. I'm trying to decide between either a Panasonic or Toshiba.
Click to expand...

Your name is "cheap." Should we assume you're in the budget market? (give me a break, I'm trying to mind read here)

A little info on what you're looking for and what your budget is (and how flexible you are on that budget) would help a lot.

A good place to go is avsforum.com. Read the forums quite a bit and you get a good idea of what the enthusiests like in every price range, style and size.

Hitachi's Ultravision RPTVs are great bang for the buck models.

Samsungs DLP are great if you're willing to spend twice what the Hitachi CRT based RPTVs cost

And if you're wanting to go plasma, I suggest waiting a year or two. The realiable poop is that prices are going to plumet on flat screen TVs and monitors both LCD and plasma over the next two years... more than 50%.
 
Good choices.

I own(ed) all 3. I have a Panny, Sony and Toshiba right now.

So far I'm very happy with the Panny (50LC13) and Toshiba (27AF42). I had an HDTV Sony (36XBR400) but it broke before it hit the 2 year mark. My other Sony is about 10 years old but was made in Japan. The new Sonys are not and I would avoid them. They are not worth the premium you pay for them.
 
Originally posted by: Amused
Originally posted by: cheapgoose
so I'm in the market for an HDTV, I've been to avsforum, googled, but can't seem to find what I need.

I'm looking for reviews or opinions on brands. like SOny > Toshiba > Panasonic.......

or maybe you guys can help. I'm trying to decide between either a Panasonic or Toshiba.
Click to expand...

Your name is "cheap." Should we assume you're in the budget market? (give me a break, I'm trying to mind read here)

A little info on what you're looking for and what your budget is (and how flexible you are on that budget) would help a lot.

A good place to go is avsforum.com. Read the forums quite a bit and you get a good idea of what the enthusiests like in every price range, style and size.
Click to expand...
And that's exactly why I dread sending people there. It might take a couple weeks worth of reading through the 500+ post threads just to become "familiar" with the forum and who knows what they're talking about. cheapgoose seems to be looking for an Anandtech-like review site for TVs. AVSforum can be a little daunting if you don't know what to look for.

Ultimately your search should end at AVSforum as they know more than anybody should about audio/visual technology, but it's a tough place to start your research.
 
I spend most of my A/V time at AVSforum, but another more "user-friendly" place to go is hdtvoice.com. Not nearly as technical in terms of the knowledge available, but the guys at HDTVoice seem to know quite a bit, and are very friendly.
 
Originally posted by: KnightBreed
Originally posted by: Amused
Originally posted by: cheapgoose
so I'm in the market for an HDTV, I've been to avsforum, googled, but can't seem to find what I need.

I'm looking for reviews or opinions on brands. like SOny > Toshiba > Panasonic.......

or maybe you guys can help. I'm trying to decide between either a Panasonic or Toshiba.
Click to expand...

Your name is "cheap." Should we assume you're in the budget market? (give me a break, I'm trying to mind read here)

A little info on what you're looking for and what your budget is (and how flexible you are on that budget) would help a lot.

A good place to go is avsforum.com. Read the forums quite a bit and you get a good idea of what the enthusiests like in every price range, style and size.
Click to expand...
And that's exactly why I dread sending people there. It might take a couple weeks worth of reading through the 500+ post threads just to become "familiar" with the forum and who knows what they're talking about. cheapgoose seems to be looking for an Anandtech-like review site for TVs. AVSforum can be a little daunting if you don't know what to look for.

Ultimately your search should end at AVSforum as they know more than anybody should about audio/visual technology, but it's a tough place to start your research.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I know that using them as a resource on what equipment is good, and what is bad is daunting, but it's the only way to get a real feel for it. Just as these boards are the only way to get a real feel for what computer parts are the bee's knees.

Simple reviews don't go deep enough, and they don't include the long term user experience. A good example is the Asus P4C800 thread in Motherboards vs Anand's review of the board.
 
Originally posted by: Amused
Originally posted by: KnightBreed
And that's exactly why I dread sending people there. It might take a couple weeks worth of reading through the 500+ post threads just to become "familiar" with the forum and who knows what they're talking about. cheapgoose seems to be looking for an Anandtech-like review site for TVs. AVSforum can be a little daunting if you don't know what to look for.

Ultimately your search should end at AVSforum as they know more than anybody should about audio/visual technology, but it's a tough place to start your research.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I know that using them as a resource on what equipment is good, and what is bad is daunting, but it's the only way to get a real feel for it. Just as these boards are the only way to get a real feel for what computer parts are the bee's knees.

Simple reviews don't go deep enough, and they don't include the long term user experience. A good example is the Asus P4C800 thread in Motherboards vs Anand's review of the board.
Click to expand...
Oh, I agree! You should never base your purchase on reviews alone. When I was doing research, I started off at projectorcentral.com and looked through their "top-10" lists and the accompanying reviews. When I got a better feel for the technology and what brands are considered top tier for their respective price, I hit up avsforum for user opinions on the specific models I had in mind.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top