32" HD LCD - Philips 32PF9830 vs Toshiba 32WLT66
17 April 2006, 12:34 AM
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32" HD LCD - Philips 32PF9830 vs Toshiba 32WLT66
Looking at buying a 32" HD LCD Television & before going shopping I thought i'd do my research. After reading a few web pages & What Hi Fi Sound & Vision magazine this month i've come up with my top two. I just need to narrow it down to one now 
The Philips 32PF9830 is their product of the year for 2005. Not just in TV's but overall. The concern I have is that it retails at £1500 (which is the lowest I could find it) & i'm sure you must be paying over the odds to just have that flash backlight thingy. Another concen is that it doesn't have freeview integrated. I have Sky anyway but I just think it would be nice to have in case I decide Sky isn't for me one day & there's no longer analogue TV.
The Toshiba 32WLT66 was rated very highly this month in What Hi Fi as being the best 32" HD LCD television on a budget. They reckoned it would retail at £1100 but i've found it for £840 with free delivery online. It has built in Freeview & two HD connectors which could prove useful.
You know you get those concerns that by paying less, you're getting less? I hope i'm right in this case by saying you're not. I mean they both got 5 stars in their reviews & the Toshiba is half the price. I just wondered if anyone on here has had experience of either of these TV's or if they've heard any reviews?
The only substantial difference I could find between the two is that the Phillips has a contrast ratio of 6000:1 & the Toshiba is 1200:1. This was one of the reasons I took my third choice off the list (Loewe Concept L32) as it was 800:1.
Anyone got any comments on either of these televisions that might help me before I request a demo?
Cheers
MAFFA
The Philips 32PF9830 is their product of the year for 2005. Not just in TV's but overall. The concern I have is that it retails at £1500 (which is the lowest I could find it) & i'm sure you must be paying over the odds to just have that flash backlight thingy. Another concen is that it doesn't have freeview integrated. I have Sky anyway but I just think it would be nice to have in case I decide Sky isn't for me one day & there's no longer analogue TV.
The Toshiba 32WLT66 was rated very highly this month in What Hi Fi as being the best 32" HD LCD television on a budget. They reckoned it would retail at £1100 but i've found it for £840 with free delivery online. It has built in Freeview & two HD connectors which could prove useful.
You know you get those concerns that by paying less, you're getting less? I hope i'm right in this case by saying you're not. I mean they both got 5 stars in their reviews & the Toshiba is half the price. I just wondered if anyone on here has had experience of either of these TV's or if they've heard any reviews?
The only substantial difference I could find between the two is that the Phillips has a contrast ratio of 6000:1 & the Toshiba is 1200:1. This was one of the reasons I took my third choice off the list (Loewe Concept L32) as it was 800:1.
Anyone got any comments on either of these televisions that might help me before I request a demo?
Cheers
MAFFA
17 April 2006, 12:36 AM
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Philips is here:
http://www.consumer.philips.com/cons...ESHQFHKFSEKI5P
Toshiba is here:
http://www.home-entertainment.toshib...6?opendocument
http://www.consumer.philips.com/cons...ESHQFHKFSEKI5P
Toshiba is here:
http://www.home-entertainment.toshib...6?opendocument
17 April 2006, 12:40 AM
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Cheers MAFA for posting this topic, Im in the same boat myself but I would like a 37", The Toshiba looks great but only had 2 scart inputs and only one of them is RGB.
I will be watching this thread!
I will be watching this thread!
17 April 2006, 12:45 AM
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No worries Scott. I did read that over 32" the LCD's suffer against the quality of the plasma's & as we've currectly only got a 26" widescreen tv a 32 will be plenty big enough. Maybe a 20" or something for the bedroom as anything over a 14" will be a bonus & we are on a budget . Do you have What Hi Fi this month? If not I can take a look & see what their recommended 37" TV's are? I've never bought it before but it's very good when you're actually looking for one
MAFFA
. Do you have What Hi Fi this month? If not I can take a look & see what their recommended 37" TV's are? I've never bought it before but it's very good when you're actually looking for one MAFFA
17 April 2006, 12:55 AM
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Dell's don't even get a mention in What Hi Fi 
. My PC monitor is a Dell TFT & my laptop is Dell but in the world of LCD TV's i'm not so sure? Might just stick with what the voters suggest & what's been highly recommended.
BTW what's RGB? Just looked it up on the Toshiba site & it states "Input that accepts computer signals broken down into Red, Green, Blue, minimising interference". Don't think this will matter to me TBH as I won't be hooking my PC up to the TV.....if that's what it means?
MAFFA
. My PC monitor is a Dell TFT & my laptop is Dell but in the world of LCD TV's i'm not so sure? Might just stick with what the voters suggest & what's been highly recommended.BTW what's RGB? Just looked it up on the Toshiba site & it states "Input that accepts computer signals broken down into Red, Green, Blue, minimising interference". Don't think this will matter to me TBH as I won't be hooking my PC up to the TV.....if that's what it means?
MAFFA
17 April 2006, 09:14 AM
#7
Originally Posted by MAFFA
Dell's don't even get a mention in What Hi Fi . My PC monitor is a Dell TFT & my laptop is Dell but in the world of LCD TV's i'm not so sure? Might just stick with what the voters suggest & what's been highly recommended.
BTW what's RGB? Just looked it up on the Toshiba site & it states "Input that accepts computer signals broken down into Red, Green, Blue, minimising interference". Don't think this will matter to me TBH as I won't be hooking my PC up to the TV.....if that's what it means?
MAFFA
. My PC monitor is a Dell TFT & my laptop is Dell but in the world of LCD TV's i'm not so sure? Might just stick with what the voters suggest & what's been highly recommended.BTW what's RGB? Just looked it up on the Toshiba site & it states "Input that accepts computer signals broken down into Red, Green, Blue, minimising interference". Don't think this will matter to me TBH as I won't be hooking my PC up to the TV.....if that's what it means?
MAFFA
composite- luma and chroma added together with sync to save on bandwidth-works reasonably well, well for the last 40 years or so
S video - luma+sync and chroma kept separate to improve quality
Then you have a variety of digital systems to pick from- the future and beyond
Andy
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17 April 2006, 09:57 AM
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I've got the Toshiba and it's very very nice.
The reviews are good and comparing side by side to the other sets in the shop made me buy it. Nice picture, build and remote.
dipster
The reviews are good and comparing side by side to the other sets in the shop made me buy it. Nice picture, build and remote.
dipster
17 April 2006, 10:03 AM
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17 April 2006, 10:03 AM
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Toshiba
I have the 32wlt58 with the toshiba stand (would never buy a philips product again after an massive arguement over one of their TVs - had 4 engineers out who all agreed with me but it took a call to the md (or eqv) in the UK to sort it)
http://www.home-entertainment.toshib...8?opendocument - lower contrast than the one you are looking at but I love the design of it
Excellent screen - I have two dells (24" and 20" monitors) and it exceeds them for picture quality - freeview can be blocky but when I feed HD from my media centre via hdmi superb
One one problem with it - the sound went at 4 months old - just disappeared - two call's to toshiba and I had a new one within a couple of days ! Beats philips customer service - took me 2 months to sort theirs out !
http://www.home-entertainment.toshib...8?opendocument - lower contrast than the one you are looking at but I love the design of it
Excellent screen - I have two dells (24" and 20" monitors) and it exceeds them for picture quality - freeview can be blocky but when I feed HD from my media centre via hdmi superb
One one problem with it - the sound went at 4 months old - just disappeared - two call's to toshiba and I had a new one within a couple of days ! Beats philips customer service - took me 2 months to sort theirs out !
17 April 2006, 12:18 PM
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Hi MAFA
Are you sure about the online price of the Tosh?
There are two models with similar part numbers;-
The 32WLT66 has the built in Freeview tuner and costs around £1100.
The 32WL66 does not have the tuner and is around £840.
I just looked at both of these in Comet this morning.
Out of all the TV's on view - the Toshibas certainly seemed the best picture quality.
Cheers
Steve
Are you sure about the online price of the Tosh?
There are two models with similar part numbers;-
The 32WLT66 has the built in Freeview tuner and costs around £1100.
The 32WL66 does not have the tuner and is around £840.
I just looked at both of these in Comet this morning.
Out of all the TV's on view - the Toshibas certainly seemed the best picture quality.
Cheers
Steve
17 April 2006, 12:24 PM
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steve
he is
http://www.empiredirect.co.uk/conten...de=TOS-32WLT66
http://www.pricerunner.co.uk/sound-a.../581661/prices
I got comet to price match mine from their normally high shop price
Dave.
he is
http://www.empiredirect.co.uk/conten...de=TOS-32WLT66
http://www.pricerunner.co.uk/sound-a.../581661/prices
I got comet to price match mine from their normally high shop price
Dave.
17 April 2006, 01:34 PM
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Ive had the Tosh 32WLT 66 about a week now , and can't rate highly enough especially for the £899 here . PQ from a Sky + box is better than the Sony CRT it replaced and DVD's look very 
Just got to wait for the price of Sky HD to come down now
Just got to wait for the price of Sky HD to come down now
Last edited by kbsub; 17 April 2006 at 01:37 PM.
17 April 2006, 05:59 PM
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Im thinking about the 37WLT66 Toshiba however some people on avforums are waiting for this model
http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=321320
I think I need at 37" as i sit 10' 6" or 3200mm away from the TV, do you think this is right size?
Scott
http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=321320
I think I need at 37" as i sit 10' 6" or 3200mm away from the TV, do you think this is right size?
Scott
17 April 2006, 06:21 PM
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Originally Posted by scott8629
Im thinking about the 37WLT66 Toshiba however some people on avforums are waiting for this model
http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=321320
I think I need at 37" as i sit 10' 6" or 3200mm away from the TV, do you think this is right size?
Scott
http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=321320
I think I need at 37" as i sit 10' 6" or 3200mm away from the TV, do you think this is right size?
Scott
17 April 2006, 08:24 PM
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Toshiba it is then by the sound of it. £848.98 inc. VAT & delivery from here - http://www.soundandvisiononline.com/...oduct_id=10712
Might even get the interest free credit option & pay it all off when we move house
MAFFA
Might even get the interest free credit option & pay it all off when we move house
MAFFA
17 April 2006, 08:28 PM
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Would you go for any of the Warranty options?
2yrs - £109
3yrs - £169
5yrs - £259
Or is the Manufacturers warranty sufficient?
MAFFA
2yrs - £109
3yrs - £169
5yrs - £259
Or is the Manufacturers warranty sufficient?
MAFFA
17 April 2006, 09:38 PM
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never touched extended warrentys and I think the amount I have spent in repairs (if any) has always been lower
2 years nearly 15% of the price ? How much will a 32" lcd be worth
and if they are offering accidental damage in there check you aint already covered on the house insurance - why pay twice?
2 years nearly 15% of the price ? How much will a 32" lcd be worth
and if they are offering accidental damage in there check you aint already covered on the house insurance - why pay twice?
21 April 2006, 09:55 PM
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Okay so I ordered the TV at 11pm on Tuesday evening & it arrived this morning 
That's quick!!
Old TV:
New TV:
Tis proper quality & i'm so glad for everyone's expertise in What Hi Fi magazine. There wouldn't have been a chance for me to have a demo on this TV anywhere prior to purchase so I went totally on their recommendation
The stand will be changed soon but the TV is so new the stand is only just out (this week I believe)
http://www.leconcepts.com/plasma/tos...dt66/accsy.htm
Next on the list.....Sky HD in time for the world cup & Wimbledon Then i'll need to get a sparky round to mount it on the wall above the fire, ditch the stand & hook the PC up to it etc.... I love gadgets
MAFFA
That's quick!!Old TV:
New TV:
Tis proper quality & i'm so glad for everyone's expertise in What Hi Fi magazine. There wouldn't have been a chance for me to have a demo on this TV anywhere prior to purchase so I went totally on their recommendation
The stand will be changed soon but the TV is so new the stand is only just out (this week I believe)
http://www.leconcepts.com/plasma/tos...dt66/accsy.htm
Next on the list.....Sky HD in time for the world cup & Wimbledon
Then i'll need to get a sparky round to mount it on the wall above the fire, ditch the stand & hook the PC up to it etc.... I love gadgets MAFFA
22 April 2006, 02:12 AM
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Originally Posted by MAFFA
Then i'll need to get a sparky round to mount it on the wall above the fire, ditch the stand & hook the PC up to it etc
do it yourself m8 - wont take long
22 April 2006, 09:21 AM
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Hi MAFFA
I also bought the Toshiba last weekend (the one without the freeview box inside!)
At the same time - we saw a demo of a HD DVD player (the Toshiba SD350).
This connects to your HD ready TV by a HDMI lead (a bit like a USB lead - but a bit bigger).
When you then play a DVD on this type of DVD player - the quality is incredible compared with a normal DVD player and a scart socket.
The HD ready DVD players upscale the digital output through the HDMI to 1080 -- so you are starting to see what HD tv is all about!
As far as I know there are 3 HD-ready players on the market.
The Toshiba SD350
Two Samsung units - one player and one player/recorder.
The players are around £99 the recorders around £200.
If you buy the Samsung player (which I did from Argos for £99) - it even comes supplied with the HDMI lead - these are £40 alone from high street shops (cheaper online).
Now you have the HD TV - I strongly recommend you get an HD ready DVD player - you wont be disappointed - it was the best £99 I spent all year!!!
Cheers!
Steve
I also bought the Toshiba last weekend (the one without the freeview box inside!)
At the same time - we saw a demo of a HD DVD player (the Toshiba SD350).
This connects to your HD ready TV by a HDMI lead (a bit like a USB lead - but a bit bigger).
When you then play a DVD on this type of DVD player - the quality is incredible compared with a normal DVD player and a scart socket.
The HD ready DVD players upscale the digital output through the HDMI to 1080 -- so you are starting to see what HD tv is all about!
As far as I know there are 3 HD-ready players on the market.
The Toshiba SD350
Two Samsung units - one player and one player/recorder.
The players are around £99 the recorders around £200.
If you buy the Samsung player (which I did from Argos for £99) - it even comes supplied with the HDMI lead - these are £40 alone from high street shops (cheaper online).
Now you have the HD TV - I strongly recommend you get an HD ready DVD player - you wont be disappointed - it was the best £99 I spent all year!!!
Cheers!
Steve
22 April 2006, 11:05 AM
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I might have a look around as i'll need a multi regional one. Most of my DVD's are from either Australia, USA, Canada or Japan LOL
I'm gonna wait until we've moved house though & i'm gonna get Sky HD & an HD DVD recorder...hopefully with a hard drive.
MAFFA
LOLI'm gonna wait until we've moved house though & i'm gonna get Sky HD & an HD DVD recorder...hopefully with a hard drive.
MAFFA
