polarbearit

I am thinking of buying this TV

msp1

Can't really comment on Hitachi TV's but I've got a 4 head nicam Hitachi video which is absolutely crap. Poor picture quality, search features which don't work etc....

If its quality you want then it's got to be the 2 market leaders Sony or Phillips, though I've heard Phillips are having troubles with the picture quality on their flat screens.

I've got a 32" Sony. Pic quality is great.

This is my unbiased opinion even though I work for Sony (UK).

If your after grrreat sound a DVD with home cinema kit is the dogs proverbials.

polarbearit

I have considered a sony, but for that price I can only get a 28" and no dolby digital etc unless anyone can tell me differently! I know they are good (particularly for Picture), but I have had friends who have had real problems with their sony systems. Also in the family we have 2 of the first portable hitachi colour TV's which are still going now 30 odd years on! And too bought in the 80's both also going strong, now they could have gone down hill lately but these other tellys have lasted amazingly well, of the 4 only one of the 1st ones had to be repaired, and it is the one which is used 5 hours per day every day and it has only had one repair ever!

Also I thought that having a TV with built in Dolby would mean that I'd be able to get prologic sound from stuff on TV as though there is no current Digital sound on TV broadcasts, prologic can still work. I didn't think this would be the case with a DVD cinema kit.

Jon

mega_stream

The best picture on a TV IMHO is given on a Loewe TV. Spend ya money on a TV and get a great picture, spend some more and get great sound on a 5.1 amp/speaker setup.

If its quality you want I'ld go for that setup. I did and its d knackers

InvisibleMan

jon, see other post, was typing it as the above was posted.

polarbearit

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by mega_stream:
<B>The best picture on a TV IMHO is given on a Loewe TV. Spend ya money on a TV and get a great picture, spend some more and get great sound on a 5.1 amp/speaker setup.

If its quality you want I'ld go for that setup. I did and its d knackers

[/quote]

I think your solution would be brilliant, but I am look for everything for under a grand really, so for £679.99 I can get the TV (with six speakers - 4 built in to TV and 2 external rears), that leaves plenty for DVD player and some DVD's, see my other post!!!

I am not too bothered about music quality, so as long as the sound is good enough for TV/DVD effects it'll be ok with me. The TV is 100 watts RMS, which is much higher than any other I've seen. The pic quality in the shops was just as good as the sony and panasonics next to it.

Though all the big TV's seem to look poor in the shops, is this just their setup or do big flat TV's always look pixelated?

Thanks

Jon

MarkQ

Check out the what HIFI awards -
Philips 28PW6305 - came first and price starts at £530 for the 28inch

BarryK

Do what we've done. Go to Granada (or Box Clever as they are now) and rent one.

We've got a Hitachi 32" WS, cant remember the exact model, but standard sound is not all that fantastic, but it's got all the connections you need. Oh, and the picture does tend to be pixellated as you say. Ours is connected to Sky digital via our VCR with SCART. We watch DVD on the PS2 (Region X s/w makes it region free) using S-video.

OK renting is chucking money away, BUT I'm not chucking away as much in one go, and if not satisfied, I can change it (or vice versa buy it at a discount later).

That way with viewing and listening technology moving apace, I'm not left with a "pup" in six months time without the capital to change it. It transforms what you can do with your £1k budget if you don't have to part with the majority of it on one item!

[This message has been edited by BarryK (edited 30 September 2001).]

Chris L

Barry beat me to it

I'm in a similar situation. I want to upgrade to a widescreen TV - I not too bothered about sound quality because I've already got a Sony DVD and 5.1 amp. I've come to the same conclusion as Barry - renting is a good alternative, you can upgrade as and when you want and you're not stuck with an out-of-date model after a year.

If you look at the prices of second hand TVs you'll notice they depreciate slightly faster than a Scoob ( ), so while you could argue that renting is throwing money down the drain, buying one outright isn't that great either!!

You then have a good budget to go an get a nice DVD and 5.1 amp setup - which of course, you can transfer to a new TV setup if you want to change in a years time.

Well worth looking into.

Cheers
Chris

InvisibleMan

whos got a 100hz telly, much better than 50hz worth getting?

and how weird is it looking at normal telly in 4:3 on w/s so you got your black bars to the left/right?

[This message has been edited by InvisibleMan (edited 30 September 2001).]

M_D_B

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by polarbearit:
<B> Though all the big TV's seem to look poor in the shops, is this just their setup or do big flat TV's always look pixelated?

Thanks

Jon[/quote]

I think it's a combination of things.
The staff don't really know or care about setting them up.
They are probably all sharing 1 aerial.
Any problems with the source are going to be blown up to a much more noticable size.

Home Cinema Choice reviewed (September issue) the C36WF830N which is a 36" widescreen with DD and DTS , seperate speakers and sub, but importantly, line outs for the 5.1 channels. Is the C32WF810N the little brother, and does it have the same speakers and connections? If it is, it could be a good starting point.

Edited to add.
Just been over to Hitachi's site, then to Home Entertainments, got a very good review here...

polarbearit

Right well I could blow all my budget and have the C36WF830N for £999 which is half the comet price and so very cheap, but I will have to modify my fireplace to get it in the front room, tempting though!

I believe the C32WF810N is very similar in spec to the bigger one with sub in base (removeable I think) and separate rear speakers, 5.1 outputs etc. Is this good ?

Jon

APJ

I bought a C32WF810 in February for £900 down from £1300 and its superb! Tasty looking widescreen set, with built in Dolby Digital. The telly iteslf uses L/R speakers and also has a centre and subwoofer built in - and there is a pair of rear effects speakers. When I bought the set, I was sceptical about the audio performance, being used to a Yamaha Pro-Logic Hi-fi amp, but I was gobsmacked. The sound is superb and more then enough for my 5mx3m room. Since getting the telly I havent fired up the Pro-Logic amp once!

Picture is also good, particuarly with DVD.

Like anything, there are a number of downsides . . . .
- the tube is actually made by LG
- plain nicam stereo sometimes feels as if it needs more clout - but maybe thats after listening to Dolby Digital!
- like all large screens, poor signals are accentuated, so make sure your aerial and downlead are good quality.

Before you buy - as its graded stock you need to know what condition its in. Grade A is usually packaging defects, but could mean ex-display.




[This message has been edited by APJ (edited 30 September 2001).]

Avi

Thinking of getting a Philips 28" WS PW6006 from

polarbearit

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by Avi:
<B>Thinking of getting a Philips 28" WS PW6006 from

InvisibleMan

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by polarbearit:
<B>
Any other suggestions of bargin TV's are welcome, I'm still undecided about the amp route, as in the past it has ended up being too much trouble, and it doesn't look like the new ones are going to make it any easier!

[/quote]

Yep, now its "do i want THX, what about DD-EX & DD-ES, 6.1 channels & now 7.1 channels.

polarbearit

And there's only so many speakers/boxes I want in the front room!!!!

InvisibleMan

Jon, writing a full explaination - hope itll make it clearer

polarbearit

Invisible, that would be a great help. My budget for all this was going to be around a grand but I can be flexible, always prefer getting a good deal though and I have been told alsorts of crap by hifi sales people. One salesman said a Marantz DVD was crap because it used LG internals, another said they were Sherwood internals but better!!! As for 5.1 6.1 7.1 DTX, DD, EX, THX etc I have no idea where to start and the more I read the less I am understanding!

I just want a nice quasi cinema sound and good DVD playback I think, maybe I am trying to understand to much, but the more I know, the more I can decide which feature I want and how best to spend the cash!

Thanks for everyone's help, great so far,

Jon

BarryK

Sorry if Grandma sucking eggs etc.

Marantz is a Philips brand name. But sounds a bit more jazzy!

ozzy

Jon,

I haven't any experience of the Marantz DVD players, but they do make some top notch CD players and Amps. The Ki-Signature range is superb.

You should go along to a proper Hi-Fi store and listen to a range of players. They all should have dedicated AV rooms for you to play around in.

You can always haggle with them over the costs or just decide on the things you want and buy them off the internet.

Don't listen to the advice from people at the likes of Comet, Curry's, etc. They work on commission and will tell you anything if it gives you confidence in them. Remember you'll have no better friend than a salesman.

I've been looking around myself for a good telly and DVD. I think I'd go for a Sony or Phillips Widescreen TV and a Sony DVD player. The picture quality looked in a different league compared to that offered from Tosh, Hitatchi, JVC, Thompsons, Goodmans, Sharp, Panasonic, etc.

They are more expensive, but you get what you pay for. It might not be such a big deal on small screens, but for 32/36" widescreen try to get the best picture you can afford.

Stefan

polarbearit

Stefan,

That is entirely what I had been trying to do. I have been to both the box shifters (to look at different TV's, not with a view to buying, just for comparison) and the specialist shops. The box shifters talked absolute crap, one of them told me I could buy any DVD player to play US DVD's as the initial problems with DVD's had been fixed by all the manufacturers now - he really didn't understand the concept of regions at all!

Sony, as said earlier I have seen and they look good, and price is not my only problem, I know several people who have spent big money on their TV's, only to have them go wrong very soon after! Some of the Philips tubes are amongst the worst quality I have seen, poor focus and flat screens that look like a piece of glass over a curved screen; then again some looked very good, so I am nervous about buying either!

The proper Hifi shops seem to offer limited scope for demos as none of my local ones stock a decent selection of DVD players to compare.

Oddly enough I back to back tested a Sony £250 DVD player with an LG £100 play and the LG was FAR smoother and much better quality (same leads etc).

Anyway I think the concensus is I should buy a separate amp, and a fairly basic TV, in which case, where can I get a Flatscreen 32" Widescreen 100hz, Nicam TV for under £600 (so I can afford Amp & DVD in the budget - not too bothered about Speakers as I already have lots!)

Thanks

Jon

InvisibleMan

Jon, i've been looking everywhere for one. You wont get a 32" FS 100hz for less than £900. 28" FS 50hz sony/panasonic are generally £750. 28" WS Goodmans you can get for £300 not FS though.

tonybooth

Jon

I have had problems with a Hitachi TV in the past. The key seems to be, if it is Made In Japan it is good. If it is made in the UK, it will be 5hite

I bought a 32" 100Hz SONY, from the SONY Centre in December 2000. I paid £995.00 including 5 year warranty. Comet and Co. wanted £1500.00 for the same TV with only a 12 month warranty. Cheeky bar stewards.

TONY

camk

I've got a 36 inch Panasonic Tau and the picture is every bit as good as my Sony 32 inch was, only bigger. The sound from both is rubbish in comparison to a reasonable amp and speaker combination, like B&W portable against a flat screen 100Hz job.
I paid about 1800 a year ago so they will be cheaper now. A lot of the time in the shops the lighting and settings on the TV's are nothing like you'd have normally. I went with the 36 as we moved to a bigger house and the Sony was too expensive to go to 36 inch. Make sure your DVD is multi region and has Optical or Co-Axial connection and minimum DTS. Your Amp also need to be DTS compatible. I think the renting sounds a great idea.

Edited cause I was pished !!!

Cheers
Cammy

[This message has been edited by camk (edited 01 October 2001).]

polarbearit

Eeek,

Renting sounded like a good idea, until I looked into the cost - for £27.99 per month I can get the Philips 28" WS which is £350 as listed further up the page! The minimum term for rental is 18 months and there is a £20 admin charge for setting up an account, thus I pay £523.82 for a £350 telly for 18months only! (prices for Boxclever - formally Granada)

So I am not going the rental route, the cheapest 100hz TV is £48.99 per month for 18 months!!!

Invisible, you may be interested in my bargin TV findings - Panasonic TX32PK25 £799 from

camk

Don't buy a rear projector type screen. Lamps need replaced and the picture is not as clear as standard FS 100Hz TV. Don't be taken in by the size You will be tempted....

Cheers
Cammy

M_D_B

There's nothing wrong with Rear Projection TVs, as long as you get the convergence (Red Blue and Green pictures) adjusted properly. I've had no tube problems with my Sony in 3 1/2 years. Admittedly this is a replacement for one that went bang after 6 months, but that was a known fault with overdriving the Red tube.
Martin.