Archive for October, 2009

Amazon.com Price: $152.99 (as of 2010-09-03 06:07:32 GMT) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

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Toshiba 15LV505 15.6-Inch Widescreen LCD TV with Built-in DVD Player (Black)
 
Manufacturer: Toshiba
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $299.99
Sale Price: $152.99
Availibility: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Product Description

Petite and packed with features, the 15LV505 LCD TV/DVD combo is a great addition to kitchen counters, spare rooms, or dorm rooms. The portable size makes it easy to enjoy movies anywhere in your home.

Features:
  • 1366 X 768 Pixel resolution
  • Built-in slot loading DVD player that plays DVD/DVD-R/DVD-RW/CD/CD-R/CD-RW/VCD
  • Built-in ATSC/NTSC/QAM digital tuning
  • Wide aspect ratio

Product Details

  • 1366x768 resolution w/ 800:1 contrast
  • 150/170 degree Viewing Angle, TV is not wall-mountable.
  • WMA, MP3 and JPEG Playback
  • High Gloss Bezel with Slim Chassis
  • DIVX Playback

Video Reviews

No video reviews found for this product.

Customer Reviews

Practically perfect
 
Review Date: December 31, 2008
Reviewer: Samuel Chell, Kenosha,, WI United States
I'm far from being a "techie," but within a few minutes of removing this item from the box, plugging it into the wall, and attaching an ordinary coaxial cable, I was commander of a media empire (with nary a glance at the instruction manual). First of all, this thing is remarkably light, compact, and transportable. Even though it was delegated to replace the aging Emerson 13" TV in our kitchen, I can't think of anything I would rather take with me to another room, my desk, or on a trip. As is the case with any flat LCD screen, it doesn't "play" as large as its cathode ray equivalent. (For example, If you want to experience the effect of your old 27" big tube TV, you'll need a 37" LCD display--not just because of aspect ratio but the brighter, more intense, life-like quality that is unique to the "picture-tube" television sets of yore.) So given the shallow profile of this baby, don't be surprised if you find yourself second-guessing whether or not you should have sprung for the 19"-20" model.

Nevertheless, once you've lit up this little Toshiba, chances are you won't want to let it out of your sight. It doesn't have HDMI inputs--just coax, S-Video, and 3-color component video. Yet with a screen this small, clarity and brightness are never an issue. Even with an ordinary coax connection, the images are as crisp and sharply defined as the "enhanced" HD signals at a Best Buy or Sears TV department, the colors are vivid yet complex (just be sure to set it in permanent "Movie" mode--all of the other settings push contrast at the expense of hues and colors).

I have a big Sony flat screen that takes me several minutes to locate the switches, adjust the TV menu, then the set-top box, and by the time I find my way through the plethora of Time-Warner channels, I've missed the opening skit to SNL. The Toshiba, by comparison, is instant (allow for several seconds for the channel to lock and the screen to illuminate. The audio is acceptable for dialog. There's no distortion or "canned" quality, though for listening to Bernard Herrmann's score to "Vertigo" (the first DVD I fed the machine), I might give some consideration to using audio "out" for headphones or a hi-fi system. For most purposes, the sound is just fine. The remote, moreover, is bigger and friendlier than those coming with sets costing 5-10 times as much (yet this is one set for which the remote is an unneeded luxury). And I find the channel changes to be relatively quick for an LCD hi def processor.

In sum, simplicity, practicality, price and state-of-the-art technology tell me this is a "gadget" to own--if only because it behaves less like a gadget than a utilitarian necessity. Just remember to set it in "movie mode" (I know, too yellow on most HD sets), which seems like the perfect setting for all program types on this baby.

[June, 2010 update: the set is still performing like a champion--and still among the best-selling flat-screens on Amazon. The word has gotten out.]
Perfect set for our camper
 
Review Date: December 12, 2008
Reviewer: Ellen Torge, Chandler, AZ, USA
We purchased this combination TV and DVD player for our 17' Casita travel trailer. So far, we've only used it in the DVD mode since we camped in remote sites where we do not get TV signals (we do not have satellite capability with our trailer...so unless there is a cable hookup where we camp, the DVD player is our main use). We DID try out the TV with our cable connection in the house before placing it in the trailer and we were happy with the picture and sound it produced. As far as the trailer, we particularly like this 15.6" set because it draws a mere 30 watts which is less than 1/2 the power of the prior 13" LCD set we used with a separate DVD player. We like the widescreen since this is the mode most often used on DVDs produced now and by using less watts, we can watch more movies without using up our battery power and having to recharge with the generator.
Toshiba 15LV505
 
Review Date: November 1, 2009
Reviewer: Bob,
Bought this after reading lots of other reviews. They are very accurate.

Perfect picture - forget about the 720P, that's all you will want
Nice clear sound - I'm a little hard of hearing and this is easy to listen to
Awesome tuning ability
Very slow when surfing channels
DVD works perfectly
Very light
Perfect for TV in a small room or RV
Easy to set up and use
Screen cannot be rotated up or down
Has no quality equivalent in this size
Costs less at Amazon than any poorer quality set at Walmart, Best Buy, etc.

Make careful note of model number: 15LV505
Great TV/DVD Combination
 
Review Date: January 14, 2009
Reviewer: Lee Williams, Lewisville, N.C.
This LCD TV/DVD combination is perfect for the kitchen counter. All features including TV resolution, DVD picture and sound quality and CD sound checked out as excellent. The only minor complaint is when pressing a selection with the remote resting on a surface, rather than being held in the hand, the unbalanced design of the remote tends to allow it to tip over to one side. I highly recommend this product for the compact design and versatility of features.
Excellent TV
 
Review Date: November 28, 2008
Reviewer: R. Williams, Anchorage, AK
TV is very light weight, so easy for my wife to move from room to room. We are taking it on a road trip today to use as our portable DVD player. Picture clarity is excellent.

Amazon.com Price: $286.69 (as of 2010-09-03 06:07:35 GMT) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

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Harmony 1100 Advanced Universal Remote Control with 3.5-Inch Color Touch Screen
 
Manufacturer: Logitech, Inc
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $399.99
Sale Price: $286.69
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Product Description

The Logitech Harmony 1100 gives you powerful home-entertainment control through a customizable, 3.5-inch full-color touch screen. Controls are easy to access and are backlit, so you can easily find them in the dark. One-touch, activity-based controls turn on the right devices in the right order with a single command. RF wireless capability lets you control devices without direct line-of-sight, so you can keep components in a closed cabinet or even another room (requires Logitech Harmony RF Extender, sold separately). The on-screen commands are customizable, so you get the commands you want, when you want them. The Harmony 1100 supports more than 5000 brands and over 225,000 devices.

Product Details

  • One-touch, activity-based controls
  • 3.5-inch, full-color touch screen
  • Customizable commands, icons and screens
  • RF wireless capability. Support for 5,000+ brands and 225,000+ devices
  • Rechargeable, complete with charging stand

Video Reviews

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Customer Reviews

Haier HLT71 7-Inch Handheld LCD TV

Amazon.com Price: $85.65 (as of 2010-09-02 19:00:50 GMT) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

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Haier HLT71 7-Inch Handheld LCD TV
 
Manufacturer: Haier
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $129.99
Sale Price: $85.65
Availibility: Usually ships in 24 hours
Free Shipping Available
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Product Description

The Haier HLT71 portable LCD TV gives you the ability to enjoy your favorite television programs anywhere, any time--in your home or away. Watch the morning news without having to get out of bed, or while sun bathing in the back yard. Does someone else have dibs on the TV room? Pull out your HLT71, and you've got your own TV room. This handy little portable TV has a 7-inch LCD screen that switches between a 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratio. It has a built-in ATSC/NTSC tuner with detachable antenna enabling you to receive crisp reception of your favorite channels - even after the digital-to-analog switch in June 2009. The HLT71 connects to other devices with an audio/video jack and coaxial output. Watch with others using the built-in twin speaker system, or plug your headphones into the included jack to enjoy your favorite programs without disturbing those around you. The rechargeable Li-polymer battery offers up to 2.5-hours of life between charges -- enough time to watch an entire movie or several episodes of your favorite show without a recharge. The HLT71 includes an AC power adapter, a car adapter and a Remote Control.

Product Details

  • 7-inch portable LCD TV with ATSC/NTSC tuner, that WILL work after 2/19/2009
  • Selectable screen aspect ratio of 16:9 or 4:3
  • Audio/video jack and coaxial input; detachable antenna
  • Multi language OSD- English, French and Spanish with detachable antenna
  • AC adaptor, car adaptor and remote control

Video Reviews

No video reviews found for this product.

Customer Reviews

FANTASTIC 7 inch portable LCD TV !
 
Review Date: September 15, 2008
Reviewer: Tante Maren, Ohio, United States
I am really thrilled with my purchase of this Haier HLT71 7-inch, ATSC 2009-ready portable LCD TV! I have never heard of this name brand Haier, and I had heard many nightmare stories about some of the other name brands having poor pictures on these little screens, so I thought I'd give this Haier a try.
I ordered this tv directly from Amazon and it came to me from a seller on Amazon who goes by the name ANTOnline. The seller sent this perfect and fast to start with, which is always a big plus with me. When I opened the box, the set looked very sleek and light weight, just perfect! The tv I received is exactly like the picture shows in this description, black (it is the picture that has the remote control next to the tv), with really simple control buttons on the front. I then looked at the directions, but realized, I didn't need to read them at all! Everything is really obvious! The set has a little slide switch on the side to turn on the power. The antenna screws in really easy. It comes with a plug for the inside electrical outlet, and a plug for the car lighter, and a lightweight rechargeable battery! It has a little remote control which they made very easy to read! After screwing on the antenna (or you can attach your cable cord if you are using it in the house), I basically plugged it in, slid the power switch on, pressed the button to scan for setting the channels, and it does it quickly! In about 1 minute, it was set! I then tried the small battery, and it played perfectly without the electric power!
The picture is absolutely gorgeous, as it has the new atsc digital signal receiver built in! To see the local programs in digital on this little screen was fantastic! Colors are crisp, sharp and vivid, just like a big hdtv!
I have noticed that some reviews are giving this tv a low rating because it did not pick up any channels with the single rabbit ear that comes with the set. This tv picks up EVERY signal that is being broadcast in your area. Before you buy this tv, you should first go to a website called Antenna Web. On this site, you type in your address and it will show you exactly how many channels you can receive in your area and what type of antenna you will need to pick up the signals. Antenna Web said that in my area I could receive 8 signals, and the single rabbit ear that comes with this tv picked up all 8 channels. When I used a stronger antenna, I picked up 3 more channels. When I used my cable cord, I received over 60 channels, and when I used my cable cord with my box, I picked up 250 channels. Whatever I hooked up to the coaxial input on this tv, this tv picked up! If you live in an area that receives no broadcast signals or you need a high powered antenna to pick up anything, it is not the tv's fault, but your broadcasters. So, if you want to be certain your tv is picking up the signals correctly, go to Antenna Web and check to see what channels you can get in your area and what type of antenna you need to pick up the signals. My single rabbit ear, picked up everything including the hi-def channels, and the reception was crystal clear. (Also, don't forget to go to the tv's menu, and hit the little satellite dish picture, then hit the appropriate air or cable before you scan for your channels. This way you'll be certain your tv will receive the correct signals.)
The real plus for me on this tv, is the battery, because of so many electrical outages and bad storms, this is a must have item! The battery has a life of about 2-2 1/2 hours, perfect for a few shows while waiting out bad weather, or even for entertainment when traveling. The fantastic picture really blew me away. I just love the light weight of the tv, even with the battery, it's like a feather! There is even a built in stand to put it on a table! The sound is incredible as well- two speakers and really loud! This is unheard of on these small sets! They even thought of including a plug in for headphones, if you have them (headphones are not included), for quiet listening or for travel! Whoever designed this perfect set, knew what they were doing!
I am giving this perfect little tv 5 stars for being able to see a sharp, vivid, gorgeously colored hi-def picture, and set up without reading a direction, but especially because I can play it in my house, in my car, or carry it anywhere with the rechargeable battery, all at a great price too!
UPDATE: Haier vs. Axion 7 inch portable tv's
I am posting an update for anyone who is wondering what the differences are between these two portable tv's. A friend of mine purchased the Axion, and she immediately brought it over to compare it to my Haier. Here is what I found:
RECEPTION: Antenna Web said I could receive 8 channels in my area. With the single rabbit ear antenna, Haier picked up all 8 channels. Axion picked up 7 channels, but one channel was very fuzzy. When attaching a cable cord, both sets picked up everything.
SOUND: For these small sets, the sounds were very similar, but when turning the volume louder, the Haier was louder and not as tinny sounding as the Axion.
PICTURE: Both have very nice pictures, with great color, but the Haier definitely has a more hi-def, sharper looking picture.
REMOTE CONTROL: Haier's is easier to read, larger and has volume control, where Axion's is smaller and has no volume control.
BATTERY: Haier's battery is a plug in and lasts about 2 hours before needing charging. Axion's battery is built in, cannot be removed and lasted a little less than 1 hour before needing to be charged.
Overall, the sets are very similar, my personal choice being the Haier, as I think the picture is sharper, the price is better and the battery lasts longer for my needs in bad weather. Haier also has way more picture settings and adjustments in the tv's menu, but the pictures on both these sets are so great, I've never found a need to use them. The bottom line for me is the better picture and price give the edge to Haier, since the reception on these two sets is almost identical.
JUNE 12th,2009 NEWS UPDATE ON THE DIGITAL CHANGE:
I just read an article on the new digital change taking place titled CHANGE TO DIGITAL TV BROADCASTS ALREADY GETTING POOR RECEPTION. And they mean POOR RECEPTION literally. The article says the following: Many broadcasters across the country are transmitting the new digital signals with temporary transmission towers, just to meet the June 12th deadline. Permanent new towers are needed in order to move to a new higher frequency broadcast that should be easier for people's antennas to pick up. Once the new towers are built, probably later in 2009, the stations will change to another channel, and everyone will have to re-scan their t.v.'s to receive all the new digital channels. Unlike the old analog signals, you will never have any snow or static on your set, you will either have a perfect picture or one that is totally unwatchable. At this time, with so many broadcasters transmitting with temporary towers, you need a powerful antenna to receive anything on your set. I thought this article very important to let everyone know that right now, a powerful antenna is needed for reception, but by the end of the year, the permanent towers should be built and running full power, and that means any antenna should pick up everything. More importantly, remember to scan again to re-program your tv channels after June 12th, and again later in the year, when all the permanent towers are up. This will get you all the stations that will be changing to a new channel with the new frequencies. I hope this helps everyone, so they'll get the most channels out of their tv's!
UPDATE: MISSING OR NO CHANNELS AFTER DIGITAL CHANGE
This is an update for anyone who has lost channels or who has no channels after the digital change took place June 12, 2009, whether you re-scanned or not. I received this information to share with all of you from contacting the FCC, CBS, Antenna Web and Elgato Systems Technical Support. They were all very helpful in explaining to me what exactly is going on right now, which is this: Half of the nations tv stations (which at half is 1,760 stations) are running at full power, the other half of 1,760 stations are not. Some stations are completely off the air temporarily, and are available only through cable and satellite. In most major markets some channels are still in lower frequencies which many smaller antennas will NEVER pick up except MAYBE with the highest powered amplified antenna. Digital tv was originally planned to be broadcast in UHF (digital loop antenna needed), which are the higher channels. VHF (rabbit ears), which are the lower analog channels (2-13) was supposed to be gone, but it is not. The new digital tv is being broadcast in 2 different ranges both UHF and VHF. In other words, channels are missing, many channels are in frequencies we cannot pick up and only half of our stations are running at full power! What a mess! Antenna Web is now showing the new RF (Radio Frequency) channels in your area. Each station has 1 RF channel. If you see in your area, any low RF channels from 1-13 range, you will need a really high powered antenna to MAYBE receive your channels.
First, go to your tv to re-scan. Remove any batteries. Plug it in to the wall outlet. Find the satellite dish in your menu and set it to air (if using antenna) or cable (if cable is hooked up)and scan. You may have to do this several times and even more re-scans are needed over the next year or two!
The FCC recommends, if you are getting nothing, or very few channels, to do the following, before re-scanning:
1.) Re-orient the antenna
2.) Amplify the antenna (Not recommended by me, as these antenna's need electricity, which means it will be useless when used with the battery)
3.) Purchase a new HD antenna that will receive both VHF and UHF
When you buy an hd antenna for your set, try re-scanning it when you get home a few times to see what you get, if nothing works, return it and try another. (After re-scanning, make sure you try the tv with your battery to see what you can pick up for power outages.) Eventually one will work for your area and you'll be set for the next power outage. With only 1/2 the stations at full power, many channels temporarily missing that went to cable and dish tv, and many running on low analog frequencies, it's amazing our antenna sets are picking up anything right now! Shop till you get a good antenna for your area, and be patient as it will be years before everything is being broadcast in higher frequency digital tv! I hope this helps everyone, as the right antenna is everything right now!
UPDATE: MORE HAIER BATTERIES ARE FINALLY HERE! (September 26, 2009)
I am so happy that Haier has finally made more batteries available to purchase here on Amazon! Just type in Haier Battery and you'll see many sellers have them advertised and the prices are very competitive, starting at $24.00 plus shipping. I received mine quickly, tested it and we got a little over 4 hours of television with 2 batteries, which will be wonderful when we need a portable for the next power outage!(Without power, I recharged them in my car.)I've had my tv for 2 years now, and it's still like new, so paying for an extra battery is definitely worth it!
Best portable Digital tuner TV
 
Review Date: September 30, 2008
Reviewer: M. Garcia, Macon, Georgia USA
Great little TV. The item I received differed from the one pictured, it was rubberized black and had better controls. I comes with a removable battery pack, 12v and AC adapters and a stick antenna.

We use it for keeping up with college football games while watching our daughters travel softball team.

The TV decodes everything. ATSC (over the air digital TV), NTSC (analog TV), regular cable TV AND even non-encrypted QAM cable TV (that was a huge plus for me).

I tried a Radio Shack 7" that looks a lot like the Amazon picture of the Haier above; but this TV is MUCH MUCH better. The antennas with these TV's are crap, get the silver sensor sold on Amazon and you will be amazed the channels you can pull in with this TV.

Good Luck.
Excellent!
 
Review Date: October 1, 2008
Reviewer: WILLIAM MCLEAN, Medford, OR USA
My HLT71 also came with the black mar-resistant case.

Wow, what a great little TV! Not using the included antenna, but using another single retractable rod antenna - with a long cable attached, I was able, by moving the antenna away from the TV, to tune-in everything that my 27" Digital Sony can. Actually, even more analogue stations than the Sony.

Nothing in the advertising says this TV produces High Definition viewing. While it does pick-up HDTV stations, image quality is restricted by the LED television screen. But that image is really nice and sharp - almost HD.

Also, I can hardly believe that the included little lightweight lithium ion battery can be so powerful. It way out performs NmHd batteries. And the light weight AC adapter, and even the included lighter weight automobile adapter, they are of finest quality - like the TV itself.

It seems very odd that since this is the best 7" digital TV that I have ever seen that it is also the lowest in price. I got mine for $117.99 including free S&H.
Here's a different use and perspective...
 
Review Date: January 30, 2009
Reviewer: Kraig, Charlotte, New Caledonia
Hopefully this review will provide a different perspective from others...

First of all, for those who had negative reviews based on a weak signal and problems with the settings and controls; if you took as much time to tinker a bit or read the manual as you did with writing the review you probably would have figured it out.

Having said that, here's my unique take. This TV is perfect for use with a treadmill. If you price treadmills or elliptical machines with built in LCD TVs you are looking at $1200-$1500 at the low end of the spectrum. But if you look for a quality treadmill with all the same bells and whistles minus the TV that price is cut in half. Think about that. You are essentially paying $400-$800 for a built-in 5 inch LCD TV with crappy speakers.

Instead, I bought this Haier to use for the same purpose. We have a nice treadmill situated in our little workout room and we simply mounted the Haier TV to a camera tripod. I picked one up from Wal-Mart for $19. The tripod is tall enough to sit right in front of the treadmill at eye level - just like a gym quality unit. Turn it on and start walking. The TV remote is handy for changing channels or adjusting the volume as you exercise.

I happen to have mine near the wall with the cable outlet and so I just hooked it up to a standard coaxial cable, changed the menu to CATV input and had it scan for channels. It picked up 99 channels in my area - including local networks, ESPN, HGTV, etc. On a recent rare occasion we had a cable outage, I moved the TV closer to the window, attached the antenna it came with, changed the menu to Antenna, scanned, and voila! 10 local channels including high definition local broadcasts.

If you like the idea of using this little wonder for exercising, don't hesitate. Buy it.

For those who complained of a weak signal right out of the box, consider your location. Unless you live in Florida, I'll bet you live in an area with foothills or changing elevations. When using an antenna or rabbit ears, television signals are delivered line-of-sight, not bounced around by a satellite. So if there is a hill, building, forest or other obstructions between you and the nearest broadcast station, well, I think you get the point. So before bashing this excellent little TV, do some research.

For those who complained about losing memory and the battery...did the instruction booklet tell you to remove the green plastic around the batteries? No. That is antistatic, anticorrosive paper needed to marry the two halves of the lithium packs. Also, check the little white plug again. If it's not properly seated, then the battery is not fully charging when it's plugged into DC and you will have to reprogram channels every time you turn it on. Again, just use a little common sense before giving this TV a 1-star review.

Last but not least, this TV has most of the same menu and setup features as a large modern LCD or Plasma TV. But at the end of the day it is still a standard definition set. Even if you receive an HD channel you will still only be able to view it at standard definition. And for that this TV does a wonderful job. Color saturation is great and blacks are blacks. If you wanted HD quality did you really think you would get it for $100?
Some things other reviewers missed
 
Review Date: January 17, 2009
Reviewer: Franklin Hu, Seattle, WA
I read all the reviews, so I won't cover any of that.

The one strange thing is that you cannot turn the TV off by using the front buttons. You turn the TV on using a small switch on the side and once it is on, you can't turn it off using any of the front buttons. If you want to turn the screen off and put the TV into standby, you must use the remote. So if you want to keep the TV in your bathroom, you must have the remote handy to turn it off/on. You can still turn it off using the switch on the side, but that is kinda awkward.

The antenna can be stored in a clip on the top of the TV, but it would have been better to have just built it into the TV like the Axion does.

The battery looks like a plastic wrapped lithium polymer battery. There is a cover for the battery and it can be removed unlike the Axion.

One very cool feature is that it also appears to be able to tune in digital QAM channels on my limited basic Comcast cable. All of the sudden I can see many more HD channels than I could see before. Too bad this doesn't have a TV output so I could it like a converter box.

If you're thinking of mounting this TV on a wall, it doesn't have any mounting holes in the back so you can mount it like a picture. The stand makes it tilt quite a ways back making it difficult to view from far away. There is a tripod mount on the bottom.

If you are viewing text graphics - like on a weather channel, the text looks a bit fuzzy, but otherwise the picture is pretty good.

An annoyance is that the TV has either a wide or normal mode. If you put it into normal mode, it makes all channels (include HD ones) in a 4:3 format. This really squashes HD channels. If you put into wide format, it makes all channels 16:9, which makes non HD channels stretched. It would have been better to make it intelligent enough to display HD in wide and non-HD in 4:3, but no such luck. Most everything looks fine in wide mode though.

It's a terrific little TV and an amazing price - highly recommended.

Amazon.com Price: Too low to display (as of 2010-09-03 06:07:38 GMT) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

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LG 32LH30 32-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV, Gloss Black
 
Manufacturer: LG
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $599.95
Sale Price: Too low to display
Availibility: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Product Description

32" LCD TV FULL HD 1080p (1920 x 1080p) resolution, 50,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio, ATSC/NTSC/Clearn QAM - 1 Tuner, XD Engine, 178 True Wide Viewing Angle, SRS TruSurround XT, Invisible Speakers, Dolby Digital 5.1 Decoder, 3 HDMI, USB 2.0, includes swivel stand

Product Details

  • LCD HDTV features a slim profile contoured edges with swivel stand
  • 1080p Full HD resolution 1920 x 1080p with 3x HDMI v 1.3 digital inputs and PC input
  • Invisible speaker system with Dolby Digital 5.1 & Clear voice for richer more balanced sound & a polished look
  • Super ISFccc caple of professional calibration for picture performance
  • 50,000:1 Dynamic contrast ratio

Video Reviews

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Customer Reviews

Samsung LN26B360 26-Inch 720p LCD HDTV

Amazon.com Price: View Sale Price (as of 2010-09-02 18:01:48 GMT) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

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Samsung LN26B360 26-Inch 720p LCD HDTV
 
Manufacturer: Samsung
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $429.99
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Product Description

Samsung LCD TVs offer outstanding picture quality so you can get the most out of your movies and TV shows. The 30,000:1 contrast ratio delivers amazing details in dark or bright scenes and the 8ms response time makes sure action scenes are realistic and smooth. Plus the integrated digital tuner is great for watching over-the-air HD digital broadcasts or connecting to cable/satellite service.

Product Details

  • 26-inch high definition TV with 720p resolution
  • Two HDMI, one component, and one composite video input
  • Improved picture with 30,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 8ms response time and Wide Color Enhancer 2 technology
  • Two 3W bottom speakers and SRS TruSurround HD for a rich surround-sound experience from two speakers
  • One-year parts and labor warranty

Video Reviews

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Customer Reviews

Great picture, great price
 
Review Date: June 29, 2009
Reviewer: Kristi in Rochester,
Well, the digital transition just wasn't all it was cracked up to be, so I finally bought a new TV.

This TV has a stunning picture at a great price. Easy set up with clearly labeled slots at the back for the various inputs, and easy on-screen controls pop up when you need them.

The size is just right even in a big room if you want a more traditional TV feel, rather than a *monster TV.* I'm delighted with the picture and the sound. DVD's are gorgeous on this screen, and plain vanilla TV is fun to watch again. If you're a first time buyer, you'll be thrilled. If you're adding a small TV to a guest room or exercise room, I think the picture and sound quality is great, and the price is good, too.
Great Produce
 
Review Date: May 10, 2009
Reviewer: it's just a thing, Ma.
I have had this tv for 3 weeks and its been awesome. The colors are vivid, the sound is crisp and the use of the new style remote is simplistic. I have it hooked up to DirecTV and notice no blurry or pixelation on sports programming whatsoever. I would disgreard knee jerk negative reviews of this product. This is my 3rd Samsung and have not had one bad experience yet.
Samsung 26" LCD
 
Review Date: May 21, 2009
Reviewer: Richard A. Lehrer, Sunset Beach, NC
Have this LCD in the spare room for wife's workouts - she loves the unit - the right size at the right price! Picture is suburb, color with excellent depth and vivid clarity. Have use Samsung products in the past and have enjoyed all.
Great Samsung Quality as usual!
 
Review Date: November 22, 2009
Reviewer: T. Delaney,
I have been relying on Samsung products for quite a while and I have yet to be disappointed. I own a 50", this 26", 19" monitor, and digital cameras.

With that said, I want to quickly comment on a few of the more 'negative' reviews on certain aspects. First, the size. A 26" LCD is not a living room TV, it's definitely a bedroom (not a cavernous bedroom), small den, or office TV. Second, the sound quality. Right out of the box the default settings make it sound like a tiny music box...that's why you go through the settings and customize the sound with the 'equalizer'; it's absolutely fine now with zero complaints.

I bought mine through the Amazon Warehouse Deals section for $296 because the description mentioned a small blemish on the back housing...I STILL can't find it! Keep in mind that the full, new warranty is still in play when you buy from this section.
Great for a multi-functional computer display
 
Review Date: November 16, 2009
Reviewer: Joseph H. Palumbo, San Antonio, Tx United States
I bought this television a week ago to use in my office. I wanted one display that could be used as a television for my cable and Xbox 360 and also as a display for my PC and Mac Mini. So far this has been a phenomenal solution. It's super convenient to sit at one 26" display and by pressing the source button on the remote switch from cable tv, Windows 7, Mac OS X or my Xbox 360's dashboard.

I'm not an A/V snob so my idea of a good picture probably falls into the category of "good enough". That said, I've owned one Sharp Aquos and 2 Samsung LCD televisions. Out of the three that I've owned I think this is the best picture. The one really pleasant surprise is that Time Warner told me that the only way to get HD channels is with their HD equipped cable box. But I found with the cable signal coming off of the coaxial cable from my wall, the TV is picking up the network channels in HD. Even without the HDMI connection it provides a much better picture then what I'm used to getting.

So far I don't really have any complaints or negative comments about this television. It's been a fantastic addition to my home office for both productivity and playing around.

Amazon.com Price: View Sale Price (as of 2010-09-02 19:39:38 GMT) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

User Reviews Send this to a friend
Samsung LN52B750 52-Inch 1080p 240 Hz LCD HDTV with Charcoal Grey Touch of Color
 
Manufacturer: Samsung
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $2,699.00
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Availibility: View Product Availability
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Product Description

Make the move to the smoothest LCD action ever, with Samsung's LN52B750 LCD HDTV. Start with the incredible color and rich clarity of Full HD 1080p resolution, all on a 52-inch screen. Add the power of Samsung's newest Auto Motion Plus240Hz technology, for a new level of the most lifelike LCD action on the market. Samsung's Medi@2.0 feature puts customizable widgets, with content from partners like Flickr and Yahoo!, under your control via your remote. A pre-loaded Content Library offers hours of built-in digital entertainment and information, from games to yoga routines. Four HDMI inputs make DVD, cable or satellite HD box, or Blu-ray Disc connectivity a snap. And with the attractive Touch of Color design, the subtle charcoal grey accent at the bezel's edge underscores this LCD HDTV's elegance.

Product Details

  • 52-inch high definition TV with 1080p resolution
  • Four HDMI, two component, one PC, and two composite video inputs
  • Auto Motion Plus 240Hz, 2ms response time, 150,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, and Wide Color Enhancer 3 for a stunning high contrast picture
  • Can use USB 2.0 for connecting thumb drives or cameras
  • Two 10W bottom speakers and SRS TruSurround HD for a rich surround-sound experience from two speakers

Video Reviews

No video reviews found for this product.

Customer Reviews

Great for mini home theater
 
Review Date: May 17, 2009
Reviewer: EarlyMon, New Mexico, USA
I've been an HDTV owner for six years and during that time, I've assisted about two dozen friends in their HDTV home theater setups. I've just upgraded to the Samsung LN52B750 and I couldn't be happier. For reference, I'm upgrading from a Samsung DLP and I own another Samsung LCD HDTV.

There's a lot that's misunderstood about this TV, so rather than the usual Pros and Cons, I'd like to share how I'm getting viewing value from this set.

First, if you're reading this, you're either already an LCD owner or have read about them - and have read about this new breed and if you're like I was, you're wondering what's what.

Color swirls - you never read about this, but if you've watched TV on an LCD set in the past, especially with standard def (SD) stations, you've seen it. The backgrounds look like compressed colors from jpg photo files. My earlier LCD HDTV (8ms response time) had it - this one simply does not. (I did have trouble watching compression artifacts in a movie from 1930 on TCM on this TV - but that movie was so hosed, I can't blame the TV only.)

Contrast - you've read by now that all LCD set makers lie about this. If you're confused and remember the old audio days, that works like this: You'd have a 35 watt RMS/channel amp (into 8 ohms). Some would lie and call it a 70 watt amp. Then lie some more and call it a 140 watt amp (how about 4 ohm speakers?). Then lie some more and refer to peak instead of RMS - and suddenly a 35 watt amp is legally lied about as a 200 watt amp. Now - I don't know the ins and outs of legal contrast lying, but I believe what I've read - it exists in this industry. This set is rated at a contrast of 150,000:1 - with every stretch of legal lying possible - the contrast on this set is amazing. I still cannot believe that it's an LCD. It's simply that good in terms of contrast. One plasma-owning friend insisted for a half hour that I was wrong, and had gotten a top line plasma.

Blur/response/lag - LCDs are noted for this weakness. Not this TV. Read on.

Quality of SD programs - some controversy exists. Not a problem on this TV. Read on.

240 Hz AMP - this is the most misunderstood feature I've read about on this TV. Nothing I've read in any review prepared me for what to expect. I was buying the TV partially for this feature, noting that depending upon whom you believe, you turn this feature on, off, on for movies but not sports, on for sports but not movies.

It's none of those on/off things. It's adjustable. Here are my simple recommendations based on my setup:

1. DirecTV.

I use a Dayton HDMI cable, also bought on Amazon (amazingly good cable - buy it), from my DirecTV HR20. I have the HR20 set up to display all resolutions in Native mode. The LN52B750 switches resolution so quickly that this is not a problem. Unlike earlier sets I've owned, the HDMI input on this TV accepts 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i and 1080p - the HR20 outputs all of those on HDMI. In DirecTV circles, it's well-known to set your TV and your HR20 to the TV's native resolution and turn Native output off on the HR20. This is because the HR20 is purportedly better at 3:2 pulldown processing than the top of the line chipsets/firmware used only a few years ago, in that the pulldown is done between the steps of converting the satellite signal to TV frames - and my own experience agreed with that.

However, I offer this simple advice - set your HR20 output to Native, all resolutions, and set the B750's 240Hz processing to: Blur=5, Judder=3 - and you'll be exceptionally happy with the results from all program input. My Boston Legal reruns have never looked so good and they appear on some of the poorest-signal (highly compressed) stations in my lineup. So, with this setting, SD as well as satellite 720p and 1080i programs look great - not fake at all. (And all you have to do to see the controversy on this feature is to "turn it on" without customizing its adjustment - and wait for your eyes and stomach to turn.)

I played baseball as a kid - loved it. Still remember what a ball looks like going through the air. When you're at the right angle, you see a stobe of blur and clear, red stitches. With the Blur=5,Judder=3 adjustment, I have finally seen just that watching a dropping curve ball (720p source). Any higher or lower, the ball looks wrong - oh, yes, very exciting - but wrong.

So I strongly recommend this set for its 240 Hz processing - providing you are willing to change those two parameters slowly and study a lot of source material to dial in what's right. I contend that if you're a DirecTV HR20 owner, I've just given you the key to really great SD and HD viewing.

And don't fear about those great blurs being missed from movies that wanted it there - Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire looked really great in that regard.

BTW - resolution switching on this set is FAST - you'll experience little or NO extra delay when switching resolutions. (Not true on my older HDTVs.)

2. HTPC (Home Theater PC)

I use a Mac mini. I know, people hate them, you pay too much for Macs, yadda, yadda, yadda. The Mac mini is THE correct form-factor for a HTPC. You can find duplicates of this form-factor - and directly comparable features - in the Windows world for **exactly** the same price as a Mac mini - so, 'nuff said on price.

But - so far as a I know, only the built-in Apple DVD Player plays movies at 24 frames/second. Last I checked (and this may have changed by now), all other software (Win) does playback at TV rates: 60 frames/sec, with progressive scanning, etc.

Now - I'm not explaining all of this to brag about Macs - this is all about Blu-Ray vs. DVDs.

The de-judder tech being targeted by the 240 Hz processing is all about reconciling Blu-Ray 24 fps (read: real theater) vs. 30/60 fps (read: TV signals).

I don't own a Blu-Ray player - my gut, after all of these years, is still telling me to wait for the right features and prices.

But, I do use a Mac mini for my HTPC and if you do - or are considering one - here is my recommendation (based on Leopard 10.5.7): set the DVD Player to Best Quality Deinterlacing, set the Mac Display preferences to 1920x1080 at 24 Hz (it's progressive by default), and feed that into your LN52B750 with the 240 Hz options set to Blur=5 or 6, Judder=6 or 7 - and your jaw will drop. If you have a copy of Moulin Rouge - use it as your reference for the settings. I particularly recommend noting that you'll actually see the dust kitties on the floor in the Tango Roxanne chapter (among other things) and also suggest that you'll really love the depth and details of the stars, lace and glitter in Your Song.

With those settings you'll not only get a great HTPC, but you'll get possibly the best standard DVD player you've ever owned. Before the LN52B750, it was very good - now it's really incredible. Ghost Dog and Moulin Rouge on DVD are now completely three dimensional (not exaggerated foreground fakey - actually 3-D looking) - I didn't even know that this sort of picture was possible from a DVD.

I think my setup shows how well this TV works with a 1080p/24 fps source - I can only imagine that Blu-ray looks even better.

(edited 5-26-09)

3. Sound

People complain about the sound quality of the LN52B750. I don't know. I haven't used a TV for sound in 8 years. I don't wish to sound snobbish, but really - you're spending a boatload on your TV and input sources, why listen to TV speakers?

I don't go for surround sound. I'm an audio purest that prefers the highest fidelity stereo. To each his own, but if you're like me, here's the secret on that: route the optical audio out from the LN52B750 into the Mac mini, not from the DirecTV's optical port. This routing is surprisingly better. Use Rogue Amoeba's free LineIn software, set all buffers to default values except for output - use a buffer size of 2048 - convert the optical to copper stereo and pipe that into your stereo system. This is the best TV-to-stereo sound I've gotten in 8 years.

I'm using large electrostatic panels, driven by a 400 watt (peak)/channel amp and a 2 kW servo-controlled subwoofer. You hear sound from all over the room and the depth and spacial qualities are great. I recommend more money into a better stereo and less room wiring over surround sound, but that's just me. To each, his own.

4. Miscellaneous Adjustments

Next, some words on clouding, screen adjustment and glare.

Glare - I don't have any. Yeah - I can see some reflection in the screen at various times of the day. The picture quality is so deep - as is the contrast - that I don't even notice glare, if it is there. And the screen is neither glossy nor matte. It feels glossy, but is low-glare like matte, but sharp and clear like glossy. They're telling the truth on that improvement.

Clouding - let the set burn in for a few days before looking. This is great advice for any large LCD, by the way. Clouding - I don't have any.

Adjustments: Go. Very. Slow. I'd recommend not touching a thing for a full 24 hours of viewing. So far, I've turned down the backlight and the contrast and turned up the brightness. I'm not going to suggest numbers here, though - there are too many factors, such as your room, that will dictate what's right. I will say that out of the box, the contrast is too high, as is the backlight (but not the brightness) - so, as I said: Adjust. Each. Parameter. Slowly. You'll be pleased.

5-26-09: Three things - absolutely *turn off* Dynamic Contrast and Edge Enhancement!! Also, Digital Noise Reduction (NR) defaults to auto - certainly on DVDs, this causes an electric sort of look to things like paper; better at Medium or High.

Color - I read a review that favored Auto over Native - I agree.

Film mode - It defaults to Auto2 (optimized for scrolling text). Use Auto1 (film optimized) - text looks just fine.

5. Internet

This is not a worthless feature. I thought it would be - but it isn't. If you're using a Mac mini and getting the net wirelessly, go to System Prefs->Network->Ethernet, and set DHCP with manual IP - set IP to 192.168.2.1 - then go to Sharing and share your Airport connection through the Ethernet. Run an Ethernet cable 100/1000BaseT type (looks like a big phone connector) from the Mac to the TV. Set the TV internet as follows: IP=192.168.2.2, mask=255.255.255.0, and BOTH Gateway and DNS Servers to 192.168.2.1 - and you're all set.

Note - this doesn't support your DLNA features into the TV - and if you have a HTPC, especially a Mac, you don't want that anyway. Your music files will all have to transcode to support the feature - stick with your native music format, and simply switch to Mac Front Row for your music listening. You'll get higher quality and you've already made those music import decisions - and I suspect the same is true if you're a Vista/Home Media user and that's your HTPC. (Update - with [...] software, this config does support DLNA features from Mac to TV - if you need that sort of thing.)

BUT - and this is a big BUT - if it's easy, hook up your Mac or other HTPC to share its internet connection. You already get your OS upgrades via the net, regardless of whether you prefer OS X or Windows. Well, guess what? This TV is at its heart, a whole lot of computing technology. Out of the box, my LN52B750 firmware was marked from 3-30-2009 - and last week (in May 2009), Samsung already had a firmware upgrade for this set. What did Samsung upgrade? I don't know and I don't care. I let my Windows XP and Mac OS X computers upgrade themselves all the time. These guys want to fix things for free, I don't argue - I take the fix.

Get it connected to the internet and you'll never have to sweat getting an upgrade or remember how to transfer it to your TV via a USB stick. For upwards of US$2k, I like not sweating things. BTW, please note that at this point, the TV doesn't seem to support automatic updates - so you still have to go over to that menu option. Not bad. (10-13-2009 update: firmware updates are now automatic if hooked to the net.)

Having gotten that far, I tried out the Yahoo widgets. This is an underrated feature by far. I'm now set up to get the quick 5-day forecasts here, back where Mom is, and out where my company's other locations are. It puts the TV show being watched into its own shadowbox while viewing the widget. This is insanely faster and easier than using my Mac Dashboard or the DirecTV widget for the same thing - and I never lost track of my show and I never picked up a mouse.

Oh - I also used Yahoo News and Video to get the latest web video of the Hubble repairs during a long commercial break. Sure, it was low-res. But I did it with my remote, and not a mouse, and didn't lose track of time on the web looking at Hubble stuff during a commercial break.

So - I strongly recommend the internet connection option for this TV, too.

6. Heat

LCD sets get hot, the longer they're on. I burned out my first LCD HDTV from days-long ontime. I left this TV on for 50 hours straight. It is summer (here in the desert), and I do have my swamp cooler on - but this TV screen is still barely warm to the touch.

7. Trusting commercial reviewers

Anyone who publishes that they've tested the X-inch model of this set, but this one is the same - don't read them, don't believe them. Quality control for manufacturing LCD sets increases almost exponentially as you go up in size. Only trust reviews on the actual set you're looking at - not the next one over, not last year's model.

8. LCD response time

This set is rated at 2 ms. I've heard that's a lie in a review of 120 Hz sets - although the reviewer wouldn't mention manufacturers. That reviewer said that they were simply taking 8 ms panels, and rating them at 4 ms when doing 120 Hz processing - and so, while my TV was in transit, I rightly wondered if the 2 ms is simply the same math applied to an 8 ms screen at 240 Hz (4 time as fast as 60 Hz, four times as fast as 8 ms).

I have no earthly idea. All that I can say for a certain fact is that this thing is razor sharp and lacks the motion artifacts (and swirls) I've seen on my other 8 ms LCD HDTVs. I hope this helps, some, with that confusion.

9. Actual Size

I don't why it does this but it does: it sees my Mac via the DVI-HDMI connection and gives me a Fit Screen size adjustment. No more lost pixels, no more need for SwitchResX or DisplayConfigX. No such option from the DirecTV HDMI input. I don't know why.

But I do know this: for years, HDTV makers were hiding a bit of the edges from their input sources - causing no end of grief for HTPC owners. This set does away with all of those woes.

(**** UPDATE, May 23 - The Screen Fit option works with any HD source - DirecTV or HTPC. Switch to 480i input, and the screen fit option goes away. Also - when you get the typical HistoryHD show where they just stretch the letterbox picture horizontally, giving everyone that Pillsbury Doughboy face, you can fix that by quickly switching the TV to 4:3 mode. You end up with an HD in letterbox - not as good as full-screen HD, but way better than watching the Pillsbury Doughboy.)

10. Correct Adjustment.

They tell us that the only way to do this is with a TV tech, and to pay for it professionally. Believe them. This TV has no less than 9 adjustments for red, green and blue - add in brightness, gamma, etc and you have over a dozen adjustments there.

Think: 12-sided Rubic's cube - now you've got the idea.

So, I'm just adjusting the brightness/backlight/contrast myself. Independent reviewers all claim that the Samsung brand rocks right out of the box for color correctness. That wasn't true of my older Samsungs - it most certainly is for this one. The color just looks great.

13. The Remote

I had things down to just my Mac remote and my DirecTV remote. Now I've got that third remote happening again, to use some of this TV's cooler features. Just like most people use surround sound while I use stereo, it seems most people get integrated remotes instead of using several.

OK - I'm a Luddite or something. We use multiple remotes. (This one for music, sound, photos and DVD control, this one for DirecTV and now this one for switching source inputs and checking out my Yahoo widgets.) My wife and I just find this easier. So, if you're like us in that regard:

This is a great remote. It feels comfy in the hands like you wouldn't believe, it has backlighting, the buttons are big enough to read. What more can I say than that?

14. Viewing Distance

I watch mine at 12.5 feet from the screen. This is well within reason for this size TV. If you watch at a showroom, be prepared to pace off what your viewing distance will be. I often go through stores and see people judging HDTVs by being 8 feet in front of one, 12 feet in front of another. Don't ever do that. I cannot overstate the importance of judging TVs from the distance consistent with your own use.

15. Pilot Delivery

I got my LN52B750 via Amazon's supplied Pilot Delivery. These guys were great. Others have had issues, many haven't. Pilot seems to employ local guys for their white glove delivery. My local guys were great - 'nuff said.

16. 6/13/2009 edit - If you register your TV on the Samsung website, they give you an additional 3 months on your warranty.

Well - that's it. Thanks for reading. Hope I've helped.
Excellent Pictures !!!!
 
Review Date: September 15, 2009
Reviewer: Songhai, Yakima, WA
A caution about this LCD before the praises.....
1. It is wide...you need a second pair of hands to help you get it out of the box and mount it, if you are like me who was eager to mount it all by myself, you will end up with acute low back pain..oooh.
2. Do not dispose of the large box it came in,it will be hard to find a box this large just in case you got a faulty set and have to send it back.
3.Prices are coming down, shop around and buy from a retailer that will price match for you.
4.Samsung has an awful customer service buy from a retailer with a reliable warranty history.

Now to the review.......

Like most reviewers, I had spent months researching into LCDS and came out impressed with Sony V100, XBR6, XBR8(LED),Samsung B750 and B8000(LED).The Samsung B750 came out tops in all categories combininig the strengths from each one into one beautiful TV ....

I will not go into much technicalities as one of the reviewers here "EarlyMon" did a fantastic job and is more techsavvy.I will only say that I am more than happy with my purchase.

However, I shall add that the future of HDTV will be either LED or OLED.The technology on LED/OLED TV has not been perfected and will not be until 3 to 5 years down the road.So, why did I go for a SAMSUNG B750 CCRT LCD TV rather than for a LED TV?
Very simple.It is the best LCD in the market as of today Sept14th,2009 and might be for a long time to come.A point supported by both professional reviewers and users.

The Samsung B750 beats the LED Sony XBR8 (too pricey) and Samsung B8000 (uneven pixation). It compares very well with black scenes in both LED TVs, the white may not be as white as the LED TVs, but IT does not give the unnatural blue hue the LED TVs add to white color, perhaps that is why they seem to produce a whiter white.Just like the LED tv, the Samsung LN52B750 does not produce harsh pictures nor are the pictures scrabby.

The B750 has a practical wider viewing angle than both LED TVs mentioned above. It also has a better uniformity of colours.Do not get me wrong the LED TVs give very impressive pictures but since they are still in what I shall call beta stages, the prices on them are rather high for their current performances compared to what they are capable of doing.Just Like when Plasmas came out some years back, they were pricey, average cost was $4000.00 for the low end models.Inspite of their high prices then, yesterday's Plasmas in terms of performance are not as good as today's Plasmas which cost far less. They went through a period of fine tuning during which time their prices came down.Could you imagine buying a 46in Plasma for $900:00 in 2004.Yet today you could get one for that amount with little issue of burn in and better performance. A similar scenario will be played out with the LED TVs of today. So while waiting for LED technology to be perfected, it makes reasonable sense to buy an excellent TV at a "reasonable cost" to enjoy for the next 5 or so many years before the LED TVs get perfected or near "perfection".

To be honest, as much as Samsung tried to eliminate glare, this TV does have a minimum of glare compared to older Samsung LCDs but it is very minimal.If you have not noticed the glare on your laptop, desktop or your old CRT tv, then you will not be bothered by glare on this TV with the improved anti-glare technology.

If you are an enthusiast of Nature,fast action movies or sports, this is the TV for you. This TV shows leaves in a tree distinctively not just a bunch or cluster of green like most TVs do.You see clearly the individual droplets of water, as a wave breaks not just a splash of whitishblue.With fast movies or sports, no blurr or motion artifacts are seen.Colors are naturally vivid.No leaking of colors.

Do you need calibration? Yes, you do. Out of the box, the picture it gives is very impressive.Bear in mind that the manufacturers do not know anything about your living room light condition but they have a fairly good knowledge of what the light condition of a retailer's electronic dept is like.An since, the manufacturers do not know which of their TVs will be displayed by a particular retailer, they adjust the settings on all of their TVs coming out of the production line to meet the light conditions of a retailer which most time is a very bright light condition.They want their TV to look brighter,sharper and more crisp than their competitors'. This might mean less than an optimal picture quality for your room and more energy cost for you. Calibration has also been touted to prolong the life of the pixels.So if you can afford the 2 grand on this TV why can't you pick up a calibrating disc for $30.00 or less, to get an optimal performance, lower energy cost and prolong the life span of your TV?

If you decide to calibrate your TV,it is adviced to let your new TV break in, like a new car before making the adjustment.Some suggest as few as 24 hrs of regular TV watching others have suggested 1 month.I calibrated mine after 45 hrs of regular TV watching.The difference in picture quality after calibration is like NIGHT and DAY.

There are quite some good calibrating discs out there but the best for video is "High Deifinition Benchamrk by Spears & Munsil". This is very simple to use, the instructions are very elementary.I recommend the Blu-ray edition, if you have a Blu-ray player. For audiophiles, "AIX RECORDS" audio calibration disc is a winner. It has HD music sampler.For those with surround system, it will test the output and locate the positions of each of your speakers one by one for you.Both discs can be purchased online and for those who purchase the OPPO-BD 83 Blu-ray player,it is an added bonus.

However, for those who do not want to buy a calibration disc or pay for a professionl calibration service, here is an ABC of do it yourself calibration.

The primary features involved in calibration are, brightness,contrast,sharpness,color and hue.

Brightness:
This controls the depth of the blackness.Slot in a DVD movie into your DVD player and look for a night scene with someone wearing a black suit.Adjust the brightness control until you can make out clearly the edges of the suit lapel and the breast pocket of the black suit.

Contrast:
Controls the white. Look for a scene of someone wearing a white shirt.Adjust the contrast control until you can make out clearly the white buttons on the white shirt.

Sharpness:
Slot in a sports DVD e.g football,athletes meet, lawn tennis match etc.Look for a scene with line markings.Play with the adjust control from minimum to maximum and watch the line markings as you do so, the lines will have doubles or ghost images.Adjust the control slowly until the double or triple lines become one line or the ghost images of the line dissappears, leaving you with a single line.

Color:
Hopefully, you are not color blind.If you are,ask a friend to help you with this adjustment.This adjustment depends on what you appreciate of skin tone.Focus on the color of the skin of the actors, usually the face.Play with the control up and down and see how the skin color changes.Adjust the control more slowly until you get a match close to what the person's color would look like to you,were the person standing close to you.Hopefully, you are not in the habit of looking for aliens or martians.

Hue:
Also refers to color.Look for a color like red, blue or green and adjust the control to get the nearest match of that color in real life.

These tips are to help you make a decision between the best available HDTV to date.And if you are like me who was debating between a CCRT LCD OR LED LCD, I hope that I have provided sufficient reasons why I went for a CCRT LCD rather than a LED LCD for now. I might upgrade to a LED TV in five years from now.

Happy viewing on your new TV. You can not go wrong on Samsung LN52B750 !

Addendum (01/29/2010):

AESTHETICS:We have had this TV for about 5 months now. No problems with it.And we have never been bored looking at it, either when it is turned ON or OFF.It is a beautiful piece and blends very well with other pieces of furniture in our family room.The black screen overlaps beautifully with the black frame.The design remains ever sleek and unobtrusive.

SOUND:I have often wondered at the comments people have made about the sound quality not being loud enough. We have our TV hooked up to a Phillips 6 piece surround system that was already in place before the TV arrived.But without the surround system the TV Sound is fine.Our son prefers to play his game without the surround system and finds the inbuilt TV speakers more than adequate for him and neither have his friends complained when they come arround.For a TV this size and varying on the size of your room, a soundbar or an external surround system should be a fitting addition to the TV.Caution, if you do use an external speaker source with the TV remember to turn off the TV volume so that you do not get an echoing effect. Happy listening!
Great LCD TV!
 
Review Date: May 13, 2009
Reviewer: G. Arteaga, Chicago, IL
I just received my LN52B750 this week and have to say it is simply an amazing display of the high definition experience. For the price, this LCD is a great value IMO - and not just because I purchased it, I shopped around for about 1.5 months and could not find a better LCD with the features this set offers.
A friend has last years LN52A750 and I can honestly tell the differences and upgrades to the 'B' model - such as the increased contrasts ratio, 240Hz refresh rate and the improved Media 2.0 USB functionality.
If you are looking for a decently priced LCD (with higher end features), this is the TV for you!

Pros:
-Picture quality is stunning- need to see it in person to appreciate it.
-Functionality of Media 2.0 (USB) port is improved and very useful for looking at picture/movie files and music.
-Swivel stand is convenient.
-Charcoal TOC is far more subtle than the red on other models.
-Shipping and delivery was spot on through Amazon.

Cons:
-Sound quality (honestly isn't THAT bad; get a nice surround sound or sound bar and the issue will be moot).
Great Television
 
Review Date: June 30, 2009
Reviewer: MM, USA
I've had this TV for just over a month and I really love it. I honestly have nothing to complain about. The main thing I was concerned about with this TV was the glossy screen because my living room is pretty bright during the day, but this baby is so bright that it isn't an issue. Plus, the glossy screen makes the picture look so much better than the matte screens, especially when the room is dark.

The picture quality is amazing and the TV simply looks good, even when it isn't turned on. I use it mostly to play FIFA '09 on PS3 and to watch Blueray's, and it does a stellar job with both. My friends are impressed too.

Another thing I love is the Touch of Color. What I mean to say is that I love that this TV doesn't really have one. I was so happy that Samsung got rid of the Red Touch of color on this model. It is a matter of personal taste, but I think the red accented TVs are ugly, so much so that I probably wouldn't have bought this if it had those red accents. This TV is a nice piano black and makes my living room a more beautiful place.

I've seen a lot of people complaining about the sound and even giving it 4 stars solely because the sound supposedly isn't very good. I personally couldn't disagree more. I mean, it's not comparable to a $[...] surround system, but the sound quality and volume is fantastic for people like me who live in an apartment and think it's important to be on good terms with one's neighbors. The sound quality and volume is certainly better than the CRT TV this Samsung replaced, and that CRT wasn't even 4 years old and was one of the best in it's class.

I bought this TV from Amazon and am so happy I did. Their service is truly impeccable and the delivery was a breeze. Amazon's price was fantastic too, and it is always great to avoid sales tax when it's 9.25% in your county.

As silly as it will surely sound to some, I really wouldn't change anything about this TV. It is pretty much perfect, so if the price is right and you're in the market for a really awesome LCD TV, then go for it. I highly doubt you'll be sorry.
This LCD really is great!
 
Review Date: May 1, 2009
Reviewer: Jarod D. Makowski, Columbia, NJ USA
I know a lot of you are looking at a lot of hdtvs. Let me tell I looked at all the t.vs in best buy to see how they look. I saw the ln46b650 as it stood out from the rest with clarity. So i decided to take a gamble and pre order this one. I even owned a pn50a760 plasma and sent it back because it had poor clearity. This t.v has an extra setting for the upscaling which makes it ajust to the size making it a little clearer for normal dvds then the regular upscaling.
PROs for this t.v: Clearest picture i've seen so far for LCD. No artifacts on 240hz settings. The colors are bright and stunning. For you video game addicts. I have a ps3 and a xbox360 hooked up to it and let me tell you the game looks crisp and has no lag whats so ever.
Cons:The internet capabilities and media stuff arent exciting. Only thing its good for is maybe knowing the weather and uploading pictures on the tv when having family events. When people speak while playing video games they seem a little quiet other then that they sound pretty decent. The blacks are probally the best you can get for lcd but its still not as black as plasmas can get. Only other thing is its viewing angles, its best to sit at a centerish seat.

THe cons are very very minor overall this t.v I will recommend to anyone looking for something great in all area's for the price. Regular Dvds look nice a sharp and blue rays look even better. Even my girlfriend that knows nothing about t.vs says WOW thats a lot better then the other one we sent back. YOu could also see the jealousy in my friends eyes.
I hope my technical comments help you decide if this is the t.v for you.

Samsung UN46B8500 46-Inch 1080p 240 Hz LED HDTV

Amazon.com Price: $2,476.69 (as of 2010-09-03 06:07:43 GMT) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

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Samsung UN46B8500 46-Inch 1080p 240 Hz LED HDTV
 
Manufacturer: Samsung
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $3,599.99
Sale Price: $2,476.69
Availibility: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description

Picture performance, advanced connectivity, and an eco-friendly and stunning design come together to form Samsung LED TV 8500. For the image connoisseur, our highest 240Hz motion blur reduction technology, our highest 7,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio that displays incredibly deep blacks and pristine whites, and enriched color processing deliver outstanding video. Samsung Internet@TV has web TV widgets from Yahoo, Flicker, Ebay and others to entertain, inform and connect you to specially designed web content right on your LED TV. This Ultra Slim 1.6” depth set is the ideal complement for your room and your life.innovative digital technology. Powerful LED technology offers the most impressive contrast and color you have ever seen on a 55-inch screen; innovative 240Hz technology renders four times the frames per second compared to standard HDTVs, for motion that’s truly lifelike and smooth. A pre-loaded Content Library puts countless hours of information and entertainment at your fingertips. The Medi@2.0 feature brings online content – such as video, stocks, photo sharing and more – straight to your HDTV, with downloadable, customizable widgets that are easily controlled via the remote. The Ultra Slim Design is only 1.2 inches deep, and that’s including the tuner! Another visual highlight is the striking Touch of Color accented bezel. And with the photo frame wall mount, you can bring the elegant brilliance of this inches from the wall – in virtually any room. And with the same passion we have for delivering groundbreaking HD excitement and style, Samsung is dedicated to preserving the environment with LED TVs, through reduced power consumption (up to 40% savings versus 2008 Samsung conventional LCD TVs) and eco-friendly manufacturing techniques.

Product Details

  • 7,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio
  • Auto Motion Plus 240Hz
  • Medi@2.0 Internet@TV - Content Service; DLNA Wireless; Content Library (2GB Flash Memory); USB 2.0 Movie
  • Fast 2ms response time
  • 4 HDMI — Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) (side)

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Customer Reviews

Amazon.com Price: $1,699.95 (as of 2010-09-03 06:07:46 GMT) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

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LG 42LH90 42-Inch 1080p 240Hz LED Backlit LCD HDTV, Glossy Black/Infused Blue
 
Manufacturer: LG
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $1,699.95
Sale Price: $1,699.95
Availibility: View Product Availability
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Product Description

42 inch LED LCD HDTV, 1920 x 1080 Resolutoin, 240 Hz, 2,000,000:1 Contrast Ratio, ATSC/NTSC/Clear QAM - 1 Tuner, SRS TruSurround XT, 4 HDMI input

Product Details

  • LED Technology uses a full array of LED backlights which control the level of brightness for amazing clarity and color detail
  • 240Hz TruMotion Technolgy virtually eliminates motion blur for fast motion clarity
  • Intelligent Sensor automatically optimizes the picture to the lighting conditions of the room for an enjoyable viewing experience
  • Full HD 1080p resolution fro enhanced picture quality
  • Mega contrast ratio of 2 million to 1 provides sharper image quality

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Amazon.com Price: $5,499.00 (as of 2010-09-03 06:07:50 GMT) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

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Samsung UN55B8500 55-Inch 1080p 240 Hz LED HDTV
 
Manufacturer: Samsung
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $4,499.99
Sale Price: $5,499.00
Availibility: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Now
 

Product Description

Picture performance, advanced connectivity, and an eco-friendly and stunning design come together to form Samsung LED TV 8500. For the image connoisseur, our highest 240Hz motion blur reduction technology, our highest 7,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio that displays incredibly deep blacks and pristine whites, and enriched color processing deliver outstanding video. Samsung Internet@TV has web TV widgets from Yahoo, Flicker, Ebay and others to entertain, inform and connect you to specially designed web content right on your LED TV. This Ultra Slim 1.6” depth set is the ideal complement for your room and your life.innovative digital technology. Powerful LED technology offers the most impressive contrast and color you have ever seen on a 55-inch screen; innovative 240Hz technology renders four times the frames per second compared to standard HDTVs, for motion that’s truly lifelike and smooth. A pre-loaded Content Library puts countless hours of information and entertainment at your fingertips. The Medi@2.0 feature brings online content – such as video, stocks, photo sharing and more – straight to your HDTV, with downloadable, customizable widgets that are easily controlled via the remote. The Ultra Slim Design is only 1.2 inches deep, and that’s including the tuner! Another visual highlight is the striking Touch of Color accented bezel. And with the photo frame wall mount, you can bring the elegant brilliance of this inches from the wall – in virtually any room. And with the same passion we have for delivering groundbreaking HD excitement and style, Samsung is dedicated to preserving the environment with LED TVs, through reduced power consumption (up to 40% savings versus 2008 Samsung conventional LCD TVs) and eco-friendly manufacturing techniques.

Product Details

  • 7,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio
  • Auto Motion Plus 240Hz
  • Medi@2.0 Internet@TV - Content Service; DLNA Wireless; Content Library (2GB Flash Memory); USB 2.0 Movie
  • Fast 2ms response time
  • 5 HDMI — Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) (side)

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Customer Reviews