Sony LCDs

spike69 · 11-07-2008, 09:00

I been vaguely looking at getting a smallish LCD. Looked at the Sony beasts on display at John Lewis and was disappointed in the quality of the picture (freeview broadcast) on all of them. Am I missing something here because the pic quality on a Toshiba 26inch LCD we have appears excellent. I was under the impression that Sony LCDs were supposed to be amongst the best.
Any thoughts anybody?
Cheers

Nigel Goodwin · 11-07-2008, 09:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by spike69

I been vaguely looking at getting a smallish LCD. Looked at the Sony beasts on display at John Lewis and was disappointed in the quality of the picture (freeview broadcast) on all of them. Am I missing something here because the pic quality on a Toshiba 26inch LCD we have appears excellent. I was under the impression that Sony LCDs were supposed to be amongst the best.

Side by side in our shop any Sony beats all other makes for picture quality, which is why we sell so much Sony. We don't have Freeview here, so sets are a mix of Sky SD, Sky HD, SD DVD, and BluRay - and we'll happily display sets side by side for comparison on the same signal.

It's really SD though that makes the biggest difference, with the quality of the scaler and processing been the prime reason - all sets (even dead cheap ones) look impressive with an HD input.

As regards Freeview, the few examples we see look pretty good.

But if you prefered the Toshiba picture, then why not just go for that?.

bobcar · 11-07-2008, 10:16

A lot depends very much on how they are set up as well. I know people who think that anything all bright and garish is better than anything realistic (not saying that's the case here - it could even be the reverse).

spike69 · 11-07-2008, 10:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

Side by side in our shop any Sony beats all other makes for picture quality, which is why we sell so much Sony. We don't have Freeview here, so sets are a mix of Sky SD, Sky HD, SD DVD, and BluRay - and we'll happily display sets side by side for comparison on the same signal.

It's really SD though that makes the biggest difference, with the quality of the scaler and processing been the prime reason - all sets (even dead cheap ones) look impressive with an HD input.

As regards Freeview, the few examples we see look pretty good.

But if you prefered the Toshiba picture, then why not just go for that?.

Thanks for that Nigel.
The Toshiba is nearly two years old and had been under the impression that technology had moved on. I think I'd better look again. It could be that the freeview feed at JLP is a bit dodgy.
cheers

Nigel Goodwin · 11-07-2008, 11:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by spike69

Thanks for that Nigel.
The Toshiba is nearly two years old and had been under the impression that technology had moved on. I think I'd better look again. It could be that the freeview feed at JLP is a bit dodgy.
cheers

Generally technology has moved on, with the top brand sets having later generations of LCD panels - but even the cheap sets are using pretty reasonable panels these days, because even a couple of generations behind is still a decent panel.

techsmedders · 11-07-2008, 16:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

Generally technology has moved on, with the top brand sets having later generations of LCD panels - but even the cheap sets are using pretty reasonable panels these days, because even a couple of generations behind is still a decent panel.

Just that it is manufactured to a lower standard, hense, often a poorer reliabliity

David (2) · 11-07-2008, 22:03

I have a 23inch Sony LCD tv (current model), and the pic on Freeview here is great. The trick is to play with the settings. Most obvious is the special Theatre button for viewing film based material - dont use this for studio based stuff. But films look great with it turned on.

The only similar priced set which beats it on pic quality is the Philips - I have seen a couple of these, and the picture is a bit better, however at least some have them have upsidedown scart sockets - so the scart plugs fall out (as the people next door discovered). I hope the trade off in pic means the Sony will last a bit longer as well.

Dave

David (2) · 11-07-2008, 22:09

By the way, the Samsung equal model (the 23inch Samsung - not the older 22inch version) costs £50 more where I live.

Dave

Gort · 11-07-2008, 23:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobcar

A lot depends very much on how they are set up as well. I know people who think that anything all bright and garish is better than anything realistic (not saying that's the case here - it could even be the reverse).

I've got a Sony 26" LCD (KDL-26T3000), and the default settings tend to make things look garish and emphasise the artifacts on SD, which isn't too impressive. Just change the setting from vivid to standard, and then mess with the settings (lowering the backlight and reducing the contrast tends to help, as well as a few other settings, like turning colour tone to neutral). I suppose it's all personal taste, but the default settings don't do the Sony set justice. Now that I have messed with the settings to my liking, I'm a happy bunny.

spike69 · 12-07-2008, 07:52

Thanks for the input chaps. Orft to the jolly old shops it is then, for a second dose of indecision.

Cheers

Nigel Goodwin · 12-07-2008, 09:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gort

I've got a Sony 26" LCD (KDL-26T3000), and the default settings tend to make things look garish and emphasise the artifacts on SD, which isn't too impressive. Just change the setting from vivid to standard

Most TV's come set to Vivid (or whatever the manufacturer calls it), it's intended for shop display under bright lighting - I always change them to Standard on installation.

Presumably the thinking is that shop staff are too thick to alter it themselves, so set Vivid as the default.

Although to be fair, some of the Sony sets now ask 'Shop or Home' during auto-setup, and select Vivid or Standard accordingly.

11-07-2008, 09:00	#1
spike69 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 86	Sony LCDs I been vaguely looking at getting a smallish LCD. Looked at the Sony beasts on display at John Lewis and was disappointed in the quality of the picture (freeview broadcast) on all of them. Am I missing something here because the pic quality on a Toshiba 26inch LCD we have appears excellent. I was under the impression that Sony LCDs were supposed to be amongst the best. Any thoughts anybody? Cheers

11-07-2008, 09:45	#2
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by spike69 I been vaguely looking at getting a smallish LCD. Looked at the Sony beasts on display at John Lewis and was disappointed in the quality of the picture (freeview broadcast) on all of them. Am I missing something here because the pic quality on a Toshiba 26inch LCD we have appears excellent. I was under the impression that Sony LCDs were supposed to be amongst the best. Side by side in our shop any Sony beats all other makes for picture quality, which is why we sell so much Sony. We don't have Freeview here, so sets are a mix of Sky SD, Sky HD, SD DVD, and BluRay - and we'll happily display sets side by side for comparison on the same signal. It's really SD though that makes the biggest difference, with the quality of the scaler and processing been the prime reason - all sets (even dead cheap ones) look impressive with an HD input. As regards Freeview, the few examples we see look pretty good. But if you prefered the Toshiba picture, then why not just go for that?.

11-07-2008, 10:16	#3
bobcar Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 14,718	A lot depends very much on how they are set up as well. I know people who think that anything all bright and garish is better than anything realistic (not saying that's the case here - it could even be the reverse).

11-07-2008, 10:16	#4
spike69 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 86	Quote: Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin Side by side in our shop any Sony beats all other makes for picture quality, which is why we sell so much Sony. We don't have Freeview here, so sets are a mix of Sky SD, Sky HD, SD DVD, and BluRay - and we'll happily display sets side by side for comparison on the same signal. It's really SD though that makes the biggest difference, with the quality of the scaler and processing been the prime reason - all sets (even dead cheap ones) look impressive with an HD input. As regards Freeview, the few examples we see look pretty good. But if you prefered the Toshiba picture, then why not just go for that?. Thanks for that Nigel. The Toshiba is nearly two years old and had been under the impression that technology had moved on. I think I'd better look again. It could be that the freeview feed at JLP is a bit dodgy. cheers

11-07-2008, 11:32	#5
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by spike69 Thanks for that Nigel. The Toshiba is nearly two years old and had been under the impression that technology had moved on. I think I'd better look again. It could be that the freeview feed at JLP is a bit dodgy. cheers Generally technology has moved on, with the top brand sets having later generations of LCD panels - but even the cheap sets are using pretty reasonable panels these days, because even a couple of generations behind is still a decent panel.

11-07-2008, 16:33	#6
techsmedders Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Chesterfield Posts: 422	Quote: Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin Generally technology has moved on, with the top brand sets having later generations of LCD panels - but even the cheap sets are using pretty reasonable panels these days, because even a couple of generations behind is still a decent panel. Just that it is manufactured to a lower standard, hense, often a poorer reliabliity

11-07-2008, 22:03	#7
David (2) Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: S.West England. Posts: 18,037	I have a 23inch Sony LCD tv (current model), and the pic on Freeview here is great. The trick is to play with the settings. Most obvious is the special Theatre button for viewing film based material - dont use this for studio based stuff. But films look great with it turned on. The only similar priced set which beats it on pic quality is the Philips - I have seen a couple of these, and the picture is a bit better, however at least some have them have upsidedown scart sockets - so the scart plugs fall out (as the people next door discovered). I hope the trade off in pic means the Sony will last a bit longer as well. Dave

11-07-2008, 22:09	#8
David (2) Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: S.West England. Posts: 18,037	By the way, the Samsung equal model (the 23inch Samsung - not the older 22inch version) costs £50 more where I live. Dave

11-07-2008, 23:34	#9
Gort Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 5,053	Quote: Originally Posted by bobcar A lot depends very much on how they are set up as well. I know people who think that anything all bright and garish is better than anything realistic (not saying that's the case here - it could even be the reverse). I've got a Sony 26" LCD (KDL-26T3000), and the default settings tend to make things look garish and emphasise the artifacts on SD, which isn't too impressive. Just change the setting from vivid to standard, and then mess with the settings (lowering the backlight and reducing the contrast tends to help, as well as a few other settings, like turning colour tone to neutral). I suppose it's all personal taste, but the default settings don't do the Sony set justice. Now that I have messed with the settings to my liking, I'm a happy bunny.

12-07-2008, 07:52	#10
spike69 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 86	Thanks for the input chaps. Orft to the jolly old shops it is then, for a second dose of indecision. Cheers

12-07-2008, 09:38	#11
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by Gort I've got a Sony 26" LCD (KDL-26T3000), and the default settings tend to make things look garish and emphasise the artifacts on SD, which isn't too impressive. Just change the setting from vivid to standard Most TV's come set to Vivid (or whatever the manufacturer calls it), it's intended for shop display under bright lighting - I always change them to Standard on installation. Presumably the thinking is that shop staff are too thick to alter it themselves, so set Vivid as the default. Although to be fair, some of the Sony sets now ask 'Shop or Home' during auto-setup, and select Vivid or Standard accordingly.

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Sony LCDs