[Sibeber]

After seeing so many horror stories of people buying "named" sets such as toshiba only to find they are rebadged vestels or beko's I'm curious to which tv brands don't have their lcd or plasmas built in turkey !

I have a 3 year old hitachi plasma that I have no idea where it was built ? is this a turkey from ...err Turkey

[John Currie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sibeber

I have a 3 year old hitachi plasma that I have no idea where it was built ? is this a turkey from ...err Turkey

You need to report back with the model no.

[paulr2006]

I think you are safe with these brands; Sony, Samsung, Panasonic & Pioneer, but the other major brands are a bit of a gamble (or should that be gobble? - Sorry could not resist it!)

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulr2006

I think you are safe with these brands; Sony, Samsung, Panasonic & Pioneer, but the other major brands are a bit of a gamble (or should that be gobble? - Sorry could not resist it!)

Can't comment on Pioneer, never see hardly any of them, but Panasonic have certainly bought and badged some smaller sets in the past - but I've no reason to suspect they currently do so.

[paulr2006]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

Can't comment on Pioneer, never see hardly any of them, but Panasonic have certainly bought and badged some smaller sets in the past - but I've no reason to suspect they currently do so.

The Pioneer "Kuro" range are very expensive so you don't tend to see many! I stand corrected on the Panasonic, I thought they had always made their own.

[iangrad]

I thought Sony used Samsung screens up to this year and Sharp panels thereafter ?

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iangrad

I thought Sony used Samsung screens up to this year and Sharp panels thereafter ?

Sony have used various screens, currently they are using mostly S-LCD ones (a joint venture between Samsung and Sony) but will be switching to Sharp LCD panels at some point, at least for some models. Apparently the change is due to insufficient capacity at S-LCD.

[iDan]

There's very few manufacturers of LCD panels.

Most manufacturers do make their own sets, Toshiba don't make their own below 26" but do above that.

Hitachi make very few of their own sets now.

[Sibeber]

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Currie

You need to report back with the model no.

Hi John , thanks for the reply

It's an Hitachi plasma model PW2 42PD7500 purchased on the 5th Feb 2006 for the princely sum of £1995 ..oh how prices have fallen !


I must admit that even though Hitachi's get a bad rap on these forums I have been delighted with the picture quality and sound from this set . I havn't upgraded to SKY HD yet though ..still waiting for the £99 deal for existing subscribers if it ever happens.

Regards

[Jarrak]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sibeber

After seeing so many horror stories of people buying "named" sets such as toshiba only to find they are rebadged vestels or beko's I'm curious to which tv brands don't have their lcd or plasmas built in turkey !

I have a 3 year old hitachi plasma that I have no idea where it was built ? is this a turkey from ...err Turkey

Do you really think the country they are made in really makes a difference these days?
The facilities will be the same anywhere in the world, the staff probably as well trained and the savings comes from a lack of state enforced employment and environmental taxes plus low labour and power costs.

The reason there is still a price difference between nonames and respected brands is that components do vary, that isn't location related but a choice by the manufacturer to offer a wide price range which I suppose does mean a production facility for the low end of the market (ie little profit) can mean outsourcing manufacturing.
The question then becomes how much of the TV is from the respected manufacturer and how much from the outsourced company and it still may be that driving electronics are propriatery and the panel generic.

It still is far more common for the big boys to supply older panels and glass to the nonames who then slap on poor electronics and dump on the market hence millions unhappy with SD performance.

[John Currie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sibeber

It's an Hitachi plasma model PW2 42PD7500 purchased on the 5th Feb 2006 for the princely sum of £1995 ..oh how prices have fallen !

It is a Turkish manufactured Vestel...but as long as you're happy with it that's all that matters.

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jarrak

Do you really think the country they are made in really makes a difference these days?
The facilities will be the same anywhere in the world, the staff probably as well trained and the savings comes from a lack of state enforced employment and environmental taxes plus low labour and power costs.

The country doesn't matter at all as such, it's the design of the set, the quality of the parts used, and the quality of manufacturing.

We're not talking though about a Toshiba plant in Turkey producing Toshiba sets (or Hitachi, or anyone else) - we're talking about cheap manufacturers like Vestel, Beko etc. manufacturing poorly designed sets, using low quality components, and poor manufacturing skills. Hitachi, Toshiba etc. then buy these cheap sets with their own badge applied, so the set is nothing whatsoever to do with the name on the front.

Sony sets are currently 'made' in Spain and Slovakia, neither of which are much good at making electronics - BUT, they are simply assembling panels made in Japan or Korea, no design work, and no real electronics work either. Basically making 'flat-pack' televisions

So while it's not important to know where it's 'made', it's vitally important to know who actually made it (as opposed to assembled it).

[Waj_100]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

The country doesn't matter at all as such, it's the design of the set, the quality of the parts used, and the quality of manufacturing.

We're not talking though about a Toshiba plant in Turkey producing Toshiba sets (or Hitachi, or anyone else) - we're talking about cheap manufacturers like Vestel, Beko etc. manufacturing poorly designed sets, using low quality components, and poor manufacturing skills. Hitachi, Toshiba etc. then buy these cheap sets with their own badge applied, so the set is nothing whatsoever to do with the name on the front.

Sony sets are currently 'made' in Spain and Slovakia, neither of which are much good at making electronics - BUT, they are simply assembling panels made in Japan or Korea, no design work, and no real electronics work either. Basically making 'flat-pack' televisions

So while it's not important to know where it's 'made', it's vitally important to know who actually made it (as opposed to assembled it).

I agree, it's the same with cars.

My Pioneer Kuro has "made in the UK" on the back, perhaps it should say "assembled" in the UK, never the less, it's still a top quality TV.

[soulboy77]

There is also a lot of commonality in components and chip sets used in TV manufacturing. You have to think of a TV more in terms of LCD panel (or plasma), processing chips and software. It is this combination that determines the PQ of the resultant TV produced. Who assembles the TV is less relevant.

[Ghostleader]

Sharp made Screens, F**K NO!!

[sancheeez]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghostleader

Sharp made Screens, F**K NO!!

Mate of mine has a 46" Sharp Aquos LCD and the picture on that is excellent.

Can't comment on longevity as he's only had it a few months ....

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghostleader

Sharp made Screens, F**K NO!!

Sharp are probably the world leader in LCD screens, and have been making them longer than almost anyone else - at one time I think the only LCD TV's you could buy were made by Sharp.

Sharp LCD's are pretty decent sets, not far behind Sony, and considerably cheaper.

[techsmedders]

Sony do make some of their own sets, the higher models only though. The cheaper Sony's are Samsung made (or soon to be Sharp). Now that Panasonic have got rid of their cheap models, they now make all of their own TVs. Samsung make most of their own except for a few cheaper ones which are Vestel. Sharp TVs have a Sharp made panel but the rest of the electronics are done by another company. Philips make their own high(er) end TVs in conjunction with LG. All the LG TVs are therefore LG made.

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by techsmedders

Sony do make some of their own sets, the higher models only though. The cheaper Sony's are Samsung made (or soon to be Sharp).

You're talking complete rubbish!.

All Sony TV's are manufactured by Sony, and always have been. And while Sony are soon to start using Sharp LCD panels in their sets, the set is still manufactured by Sony and a Sony product.

This rubbish seems to have started when Sony dumped Currys/Dixons as a retailer (as they wouldn't sign the new retailer contract). As they couldn't sell Sony any more, they told customers asking for Sony TV's that they were only Samsung's with a different label, and sold them Samsung's instead. This was a blatent lie, and had no truth in it whatsoever.

[John Currie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by techsmedders

Samsung make most of their own except for a few cheaper ones which are Vestel.

And I don't know where you got this from either...I have never heard of any Samsungs that are rebadged Vestels.

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Currie

And I don't know where you got this from either...I have never heard of any Samsungs that are rebadged Vestels.

Likewise he's posting complete rubbish about Sharp as well, who make all their own LCD's - however, their last CRT sets were Vestel (which to be honest was an upgrade from their own 'recent' CRT sets!).

As for Philips, they have a shared display manufacturing business, 'Philips/LG Displays' - but as far as I know LG don't make any sets for Philips?, however, like much of the trade we won't touch Philips, so I've never seen inside a Philips LCD.

'techsmedders' has his location entered as 'Chesterfield', how can someone near me be so wrong?

[techsmedders]

I have seen the inside of a bottom of the range Samsung 26inch from a couple of years ago (can't remember the model number) and they were identical to a Bush made by Vestel.

The panel backs of the Philips and LG LCDs I have seen all have said 'LG Philips Displays Manufactured in Czech Republic'.

The information about Sony was provided to me by the local retailer Audiovision when they 'tried' to convince me to buy a Sony top of the range TV recently. I have not purchased a Sony and bought the 32inch Panasonic LZD85 which I found to have the better picture quality.

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by techsmedders

I have seen the inside of a bottom of the range Samsung 26inch from a couple of years ago (can't remember the model number) and they were identical to a Bush made by Vestel.

I've never seen one, nor seen a Samsung with the Vestel OSD and menus.

Quote:

The panel backs of the Philips and LG LCDs I have seen all have said 'LG Philips Displays Manufactured in Czech Republic'.

That's the label for the LCD panel, not the TV - some Sony's have used Philips/LG LCD panels as well (as have many makes, Philips have long been a very common component supplier to other companies).

Quote:

The information about Sony was provided to me by the local retailer Audiovision when they 'tried' to convince me to buy a Sony top of the range TV recently. I have not purchased a Sony and bought the 32inch Panasonic LZD85 which I found to have the better picture quality.

Audiovision were telling you complete rubbish, mind you they aren't Sony service agents, I've done Sony warranty work for them in the past.

[techsmedders]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

That's the label for the LCD panel, not the TV - some Sony's have used Philips/LG LCD panels as well (as have many makes, Philips have long been a very common component supplier to other companies).

So are the panels made by LG Philips displays and then the rest of the components and assembily done by another company or on behalf of another company.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

Audiovision were telling you complete rubbish, mind you they aren't Sony service agents, I've done Sony warranty work for them in the past.

I think it depends on who you speak to instore. Normally I have been told good solid facts there but this was a salesperson who I had not dealt with up to then.

When I was looking around I was told worse by the big companies like 'Currys' who told me that all TVs were made by the company that was on the label on the front (AKA LG made by LG, Sony made by Sony, Matsui made by Matsui) which was obvious rubbish. At the same time I was told that in order to recieve HD from a playstation 3 I would need a Sony TV as 'the HD only works with their own make of TV'

[markfarn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

You're talking complete rubbish!.

All Sony TV's are manufactured by Sony, and always have been. And while Sony are soon to start using Sharp LCD panels in their sets, the set is still manufactured by Sony and a Sony product.

This rubbish seems to have started when Sony dumped Currys/Dixons as a retailer (as they wouldn't sign the new retailer contract). As they couldn't sell Sony any more, they told customers asking for Sony TV's that they were only Samsung's with a different label, and sold them Samsung's instead. This was a blatent lie, and had no truth in it whatsoever.

Interesting...I know some cheaper sony DVD recorders were badged LG s - seen them side by side - identical bar very minor cosmetics on the front panels. RGX210 or similar I seem to remember.