Samsung lcd on special need advice

[Neil]

Hi guys,

Our tv in the front has broken again...(Telefunken) what we are thinking about doing is moving the tv in the bedroom - same size and make to the front and buying a lcd for the bedroom.  Makro has a special on a samsung LA40C530.  It has an RF input which is what we will need for the dual view pvr - but other than that is it ok or is it also having those BUZZING problems people are talking about?

thanks

[Neil]

They also have a Sinotec STLCD-40KC70 40" for R5999 - a colleague of mine bought a sinotec 3 years ago and its still going strong and he works in i.t. and thinks he knows everything so if he is happy with a sinotec then it should be fine?

[Neil]

Game also has a Logik for a good price - would you guys buy a logik?  What is the guarantee on a Logik?

[Andrew]

I always say that Google can be a great friend. Google the names and models numbers and see what feedback is like from owners/reviews. Not everyone seems to hear the buzzing that's been mentioned elsewhere - we've had a number of Samsungs come through for review over the months and years and I've never heard anything, I must say.

[KenMasters]

It's the plasmas that buzz, not the LCDs.

[Neil]

Thanks for your feedback Andrew, that's what i've been doing - Logik is a product of GAME only has a 3 year guarantee - Reading on the forums everyone is more for Sinotec with the 5 year guarantee, and Samsung is not bad at all - if not one of the best - I'm edging towards the Sinotec - Best value for money or as they say best bang for your buck!  I just have a bad feeling about the Logik...so ja

[Neil]

We have decided on the LG 42" 42LD460 for R7500...the only thing that concerns me is LG only has a 1 year guarantee when Sinotec has a 5 year?

[Andrew]

We have decided on the LG 42" 42LD460 for R7500...the only thing that concerns me is LG only has a 1 year guarantee when Sinotec has a 5 year?

Only 1? That's strange. I remember a thread somewhere else on the huge difference in guarantees between Sinotec and several of the other big brands.

[Stereophreak]

I am over the moon with the Sinotec I got on special about a year ago. In it's price-class it had the best image quality, and it came with the ridiculous 5 year guarantee. The TV is on most of the day, and it's still going strong after a year. I heard a rumour that they use Samsung panels, but I can't confirm this by a long shot, and I actually preferred the picture on the Sinotec, but this really could have been the settings, and not the screen itself.

If I could do it again, I would get the same TV. I never use full HD, the Xbox 360 looks amazing on it at 720p, and I have a large dvd collection that upscales very nicely. The standard dstv signal also looks better than I've seen on the bigger screens. 

[Andrew]

I heard a rumour that they use Samsung panels,

Heard the same.

[KenMasters]

They may be Samsung panels but they'll be older, discontinued panels. AFAIK that's the way all these rebrands work.

It all depends on what you're after. If you think the rebrands can compete in terms of picture quality with the big boys, then you're deluding yourself. If you're not that fussy and you're just looking for value for money, then they can be a great buy.

[Neil]

How does one go "undercover" to these factories to see exactly what goes on??? it would be very interesting

[LAV]

As with hi-fi, if you like what the product offers and it sounds (or in this case looks!) good to you, then that's most of the matter sorted. If you buy from someone known to offer decent after-sales service and support, then that's the rest of it put to bed too!

I'm not always convinced that the mass retailers are really in a position to offer decent backup, irrespective of the quality of the product.

[Stereophreak]

If you think the rebrands can compete in terms of picture quality with the big boys, then you're deluding yourself.

Mmmm, not sure if I should be offended by that statement. Yes, price was my main concern, but I was very happy to find that it looked at least as good, and in some cases better than TV's up to R2000 higher in price. If this makes me deluded, I'm happy to be wallowing in the warm fuzziness of my ignorance, because not only am I very happy with it, I never have to use the term "Big Boys" in a sentence (except for this one time of course).

[KenMasters]

Mmmm, not sure if I should be offended by that statement. Yes, price was my main concern, but I was very happy to find that it looked at least as good, and in some cases better than TV's up to R2000 higher in price. If this makes me deluded, I'm happy to be wallowing in the warm fuzziness of my ignorance, because not only am I very happy with it, I never have to use the term "Big Boys" in a sentence (except for this one time of course).

The statement was not meant offensively, it is what I consider to be the truth. The fact of the matter is I think very few people have the first clue as to what makes a good picture.

I have looked at some of the Sinotec (Prima) plasmas and LCDs available and am quite aware of their level of performance. There is nothing wrong with these panels, I'm sure that most people would be more than happy with what they offer for the money.