[jack08]

I have done loads of reading of forums(until my head hurts) and narrowed my choice down to few 32" lcd's.
Samsung le32r87bdx
Sony 32s3000
Panasonic tx32lmd70
Toshiba 32c3035
I've ruled out the Panasonic, basically down to looks.( not a good reason I know)
Out of the other 3, has anyone got any comments about how Sd looks through them. Have read mixed reports about the Samsung.
Thanks

[mikey86uk]

i have the Samsung R88

for SD viewing, aslong as you dont sit to close then its to that bad to be honest.

For HD the Samsung is great

and i wouldnt no about the Sony as ive never owned one

[BallroomBear]

Preferably neither, but Sony if you have to.

The Panasonic will be far better than anything made by either Sony or Samsung. I think Sony's S range is their bottom of the pile, cheapo range which will deffo be far worse than the Panasonic.

I've been told Sony doesn't make it's own components, and that Sony LCD screens are made by Samsung ie they're crap.

I've read and heard enough bad things about Samsung LCD's to never go near one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BallroomBear

Preferably neither, but Sony if you have to.

The Panasonic will be far better than anything made by either Sony or Samsung. I think Sony's S range is their bottom of the pile, cheapo range which will deffo be far worse than the Panasonic.

I've been told Sony doesn't make it's own components, and that Sony LCD screens are made by Samsung ie they're crap.

I've read and heard enough bad things about Samsung LCD's to never go near one.

Really! the samsung LE32R87BD,won the 32inch best buget tv in last years what hi-fi awards,they must be awarding best buys to rubbish then.

I looked at some sony tv lcd screens yesterday,our local shop had them on bbc hd,and must say i was very impressed with the quality,and if samsung are making them they have done a good job.

Also does anyone think sony would ruin its reputation by selling lcd screens with poor quality.

I have just ordered a samsung 32 inch lcd tvafter doing lots of research, lots of people on price comparison sites were very positive about samsung.

Plus it had virtual surround sound which is something i wanted due to space contraints in my flat.

[late8]

Samsung - Sharpest image out of all - poor SD Channels show. Great contrast
Sony - More blury image but great motion and colour
Panasonic- Dullest out of the three and lacks sharpness - fantastic colour, contrast and viewing angle

[dennisspooner]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jack08

I have done loads of reading of forums(until my head hurts) and narrowed my choice down to few 32" lcd's.
Samsung le32r87bdx
Sony 32s3000
Panasonic tx32lmd70
Toshiba 32c3035
I've ruled out the Panasonic, basically down to looks.( not a good reason I know)
Out of the other 3, has anyone got any comments about how Sd looks through them. Have read mixed reports about the Samsung.
Thanks

I've looked at literally hundreds of sets over the past year or two and I finally plumped for the Panny set in your list.

And I'm very pleased with it.
The inbuilt Freeview pictures are better than from my Freeview PVR or my old Sky+ but the display from the Sky HD box is excellent and both sd and hd from the PS3 is also very nice.

Sony stuff is always overpriced and Samsungs roots are as a budget operation so rightly or wrongly my prejudice for budget equipment automatically rules them out

[Pemblechook]

I wouldn't touch Panasonic with a proverbial barge pole after endless probs and final failure of 2 DMR-E85 HDD/DVD machines. Panasonic wanted silly money to repair what were very unstable machines even when working.

Similar sad tale with Sony many years ago with 2 top of the range VCRs.

[dennisspooner]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pemblechook

I wouldn't touch Panasonic with a proverbial barge pole after endless probs and final failure of 2 DMR-E85 HDD/DVD machines. Panasonic wanted silly money to repair what were very unstable machines even when working.

Similar sad tale with Sony many years ago with 2 top of the range VCRs.

I've had a Panasonic tv for 15 years and never had a problem.

My Panasonic HDD/DVDR that I had about 5 years ago was also trouble free.

I used Panny VCR's for well over a decade and never had trouble with those either

[infiniteloop]

My 15 year old Panasonic 29" GAOO tv is still giving amazing images, and Panny VCRs are the VCR of choice in VHS duplications facilities for very good reason, they are bombproof.

I wouldn't write off a whole brand because of two faulty machines off the same production line. On the whole, both in my experience in consumer and professional audio & video, Panasonic (and Technics, also Panny, for certain things) are by far the most overall reliable brand there is. I know of Technics CD players I sold to my friends 15 years ago that are still playing without a skip. In all my time selling them, we never had one Technics back. Pioneer a close second.

[Nigel Goodwin]

As you've found out, you'll get as many answers as there are people - I work for a Sony dealer and would suggest Sony first (on performance and reliability grounds), Panasonic second (although there has been some suggestions here that they don't have very good scalers?), Samsung third, and Toshiba fourth.

We don't sell Panasonic, but we do the other three, and side by side in the shop it's blatently obvious (on both SD and HD) that Sony is the best, followed by Samsung, then Toshiba (I'd also put Sharp level with Samsung).

As for peoples comments about reliability?, Panasonic had a HUGE problem with their HDD/DVD recorders - basically because they added an HDD to a DVD recorder, but didn't uprate the power supply. Sony have also had their 'disasters' as well - there's no manufacturer that hasn't!.

I can see though, and fully understand, if you've had a problem with one product you don't try that manufacturer again - and that's the way it should be really!.

[Fussy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BallroomBear

Preferably neither, but Sony if you have to.

The Panasonic will be far better than anything made by either Sony or Samsung. I think Sony's S range is their bottom of the pile, cheapo range which will deffo be far worse than the Panasonic.

I've been told Sony doesn't make it's own components, and that Sony LCD screens are made by Samsung ie they're crap.

I've read and heard enough bad things about Samsung LCD's to never go near one.

I think you need to read a bit more as you will find samsung do quite well in ratings...........so stop listening to idle gossip.

Could you show some links to these bad reviews and if it's on forums dont even bother.

@ Jack08, You would be better off getting a demo of each then decide for yourself.

[Gilson]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

Panasonic second (although there has been some suggestions here that they don't have very good scalers?),

Thats just what IMHO Panasonic are good at and what lets Sony down.

[oxford4eyes]

Would have to be sony for me

[alexm1985]

I'm looking at buying a new TV and was in a couple of local Currys stores today. The picture quality and style of the Samsungs really stick out. I've got the LE32R83BX as my main TV and it is brilliant in all aspects, although I don't really use it for SD. In fact, I like it so much that I'm considering buying the 19" for my bedroom, as long as the black one is available.

[Gort]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pemblechook

I wouldn't touch Panasonic with a proverbial barge pole after endless probs and final failure of 2 DMR-E85 HDD/DVD machines. Panasonic wanted silly money to repair what were very unstable machines even when working.

Similar sad tale with Sony many years ago with 2 top of the range VCRs.

I was bitten by the exact same problem you suffered with the DMR-E85, and to some extent, feel the same as you. However, I do have a nine-year-old CRT Panny television and an eight-year-old Panny VCR that are still working flawlessly (the TV is stopping me getting a new LCD TV, due to its good quality image, and the VCR gives a good picture, despite the limitations of the video tape format). I have also had other Panny stuff that's worked fine in the past, too. I've not forgotten the DMR-E85 experience, but I'm willing to give Panasonic another chance, albeit its last one.

[Quaint]

Which? mag reports over several years have placed Panny LCDs streets ahead of the rest but with Sony next best. But Sony are the slightly more reliable brand.

My problem with all Sony kit is the poor usability of their hand sets. Panny ones are much more intuitive to use.

[Pemblechook]

We have a Panasonic TV for many years which has never gone wrong.

It is when things go wrong you find out how good a company is.

But I am quite bitter about spending a lot of money on 2 DMR-EH85 HDD/DVD machines. Both 'locked up' from time to time. Then one wouldn't un-lock at all then the other's power supply unit failed. Panasonic want more to repair them than newer machines cost now. What would be the point if they are likely to fail again? UTTER JUNK.

[prowsy]

My samsung LE32r47bd was nicked a few weeks ago and it had a really good SD picture so I replaced it with a samsung le32m87bd and the SD picture quality from a Sky+ box is terrible. Loads of motion artifacts and blurring during quick sequences and even if people walk too fast on some channels and I thought the 100hz would get rid of this.

Thats not all I dont like about it either, the sound is very nasal and strange and the picture is generally odd. Most programs look like they were filmed at Acorn Antiques - its difficult to describe.

I am sending my samsung back and will be getting the Panasonic LX32m70. I weighed it up against the Sony model of the same price and preferred the look of the picture and the sound.

Best thing to do is go down to John Lewis and look at them - they know their stuff in John Lewis and you should be able to look at different sources on most of the sets

[ntlhellworld]

Quote:

Originally Posted by prowsy

My samsung LE32r47bd was nicked a few weeks ago and it had a really good SD picture so I replaced it with a samsung le32m87bd and the SD picture quality from a Sky+ box is terrible. Loads of motion artifacts and blurring during quick sequences and even if people walk too fast on some channels and I thought the 100hz would get rid of this.

Thats not all I dont like about it either, the sound is very nasal and strange and the picture is generally odd. Most programs look like they were filmed at Acorn Antiques - its difficult to describe.

I am sending my samsung back and will be getting the Panasonic LX32m70. I weighed it up against the Sony model of the same price and preferred the look of the picture and the sound.

Best thing to do is go down to John Lewis and look at them - they know their stuff in John Lewis and you should be able to look at different sources on most of the sets

The R7 had terrible motion blurring problems, it was a very good TV of its generation (and still looks pretty good), but its over two years old now and has been far surpassed.

Only the first Scart socket (AV1) supports an RGB picture. Any additional scarts are composite picture only (VCR quality).

Are you sure that you didnt have your sky+ box pluged into AV1 on your R7, and youve pluged it into AV2 on your new TV ?

-Chris

[David (2)]

I get the idea from this thread that maybe the Samsung is not as highly rated as the Sony. I myself have been looking at 22-24inch LCD's.

The choice is between
Samsung LE23R88BD
Sony KDL-23B4050

From what I can see so far, the Samsung's advantage is the 2nd HDMI input (the Sony only has 1 HDMI).

Only saw the Samsung for the first time yesterday - most are the slightly different 22inch model. Not seen the 23inch Sony yet - its a new model.

Dave

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by David (2)

Sony KDL-23B4050

Not seen the 23inch Sony yet - its a new model.

It's a very different model number as well!.

[David (2)]

If I got the Sony with just a single HDMI input socket, are HDMI 2-way adaptors any any good in the event, later on I want to connect 2 devices to the tv.

I know some equipment has HDMI loop through (like having double scarts), but if you buy equipment that doesnt have this, I would still need to rely on a HDMI adaptor.

Do this work automatically, or is it a cases of a manual switch over (like in the past only manual SCART switched adaptors worked for me).

Overall I think I would prefer the Sony over the Samsung, but for this one limitation.

Dave

[Fussy]

You would be best to goto a shop and look before you buy.

[will2348]

If it was just a tv i.e. the bedroom or in a summer house at the bottom of the garden i would go samsung but for an all round home cinema entertainment experience it would have 2 be sony as sony blu-ray, sony tv, sony home cinema system is superb and much better than samsung however you should get sony's W and X range otherwise your probably going to be dissappointed!

[nancyboy]

Which? ratings for the models you list ...

Samsung 55% "smeary ... flat"
Sony 63% "awful sound"
Panasonic 79% "super picture, decent sound" - a Best Buy
Toshiba - not tested but the 3030 scored 51% "unremarkable"

Top Best Buy (84%) is Panasonic TX-32LZD80

All of their Top 7 Best Buys are from Panasonic.

15 of the Which Top 20 are from Panasonic (the other 5 are all Sony). Therefore no brand other than Panasonic or Sony features in their Top 20 TVs.