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flat screen TVs

bayouelton's picture

flat screen TVs (post #175697)

bayouelton on Tue, 11/25/2008 - 07:09
in

I'm in the market for several new flat screen TVs and was thinking abut the new Toshiba SRT Cinema Series such as the 46XV540u. If anybody knows a good forum or web site I can go to for advice I'd be most grateful. Thank you.

-A +A

How about www.avsforum.com as (post #175697, reply #1 of 3)

by Nuke in reply to bayouelton [original] on Tue, 12/15/2009 - 07:39

How about www.avsforum.com as a starting place?

Consumer reports (costs $5.95 (post #175697, reply #2 of 3)

by brucet9 in reply to bayouelton [original] on Thu, 12/17/2009 - 21:10

Consumer reports (costs $5.95 for 30 days' access) has good test data comparisons of flat screens of all size classes from 26" to above 52" with ratings of picture quality HD, Picture quality SD, sound quality, remote, etc.

There are some surprises; Sanyo 26" is as good as Sony.
Sony 46" is the only one of that size with excellent HD pic, SD pic and Very good sound quality.

Also included are rate of repair statistics for the various manufacturers.

https://ec.consumerreports.org/ec/cro/login.htm

BruceT

I would be stunned if they (post #175697, reply #3 of 3)

by Nuke in reply to brucet9 [original] on Wed, 01/06/2010 - 10:06

I would be stunned if they had the means to test real contract ratios, though. I doubt anything outside of a top secret government lab had the setup. Real world contrast ratios can be measured with $10-100K testing equipment in well-defined labs, but flat panel manufactures claiming >10,000:1 contrast ratios simply can't be test, let alone in typical consumer environments.

So, whatever you do, keep in mind the markets of flat panel manufacturers is the most outlandish I've seen. Its like advertising a Ford Crown Victoria that is able to get 1000 miles per gallon, but they don't tell you that you'll be pushing the for 990 of every 1000 miles.