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Electronics Repair (sci.electronics.repair) Discussion of repairing electronic equipment. Topics include requests for assistance, where to obtain servicing information and parts, techniques for diagnosis and repair, and annecdotes about success, failures and problems. |
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TV Brand Recommendation
Am finally replacing my 20 yr old TV due to incompatibility with my VCR, shop
advises repair cost outweighs practability. Does anyone have advice of TV brands not to consider? The major brand names I am somewhat familiar with, but there are many names I have not heard of prior to shopping. I am in the US. Thanks in advance. |
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TV Brand Recommendation
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TV Brand Recommendation
"WbSearch" wrote in message ... Am finally replacing my 20 yr old TV due to incompatibility with my VCR, shop advises repair cost outweighs practability. Does anyone have advice of TV brands not to consider? The major brand names I am somewhat familiar with, but there are many names I have not heard of prior to shopping. I am in the US. Thanks in advance. Check with your local TV Tech. He knows which ones are junk. (most are) Or buy a copy of Consumer Reports. Japanese made stuff is still pretty good. |
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TV Brand Recommendation
WbSearch wrote: Am finally replacing my 20 yr old TV due to incompatibility with my VCR, shop advises repair cost outweighs practability. Does anyone have advice of TV brands not to consider? The major brand names I am somewhat familiar with, but there are many names I have not heard of prior to shopping. I am in the US. Thanks in advance. Tough one. Since you kept your TV for 20 years, I assume you're the type of person who buys once, for the long term. You didn't say how big the TV was, though. Really, right now, I'd buy a 21 inch CRT computer monitor with an external tuner box. Why? Because you can get dirt cheap 21 inch monitors and they are likely to be better than a TV of the same price. Also, when HDTV hits, you have a 21 inch computer monitor, not a paperweight. Just my opinion. It's just that I don't think you'll be able to buy a NTSC set that will last 20 years anymore anyways. |
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TV Brand Recommendation
For watching TV in my living room I find a 20 inch display to be much
too small. But, you have a valid point for someone who wants only a 20 inch set. -- Greetings, Jerry Greenberg GLG Technologies GLG ============================================== WebPage http://www.zoom-one.com Electronics http://www.zoom-one.com/electron.htm Instruments http://www.zoom-one.com/glgtech.htm ============================================== "A E" wrote in message ... WbSearch wrote: Am finally replacing my 20 yr old TV due to incompatibility with my VCR, shop advises repair cost outweighs practability. Does anyone have advice of TV brands not to consider? The major brand names I am somewhat familiar with, but there are many names I have not heard of prior to shopping. I am in the US. Thanks in advance. Tough one. Since you kept your TV for 20 years, I assume you're the type of person who buys once, for the long term. You didn't say how big the TV was, though. Really, right now, I'd buy a 21 inch CRT computer monitor with an external tuner box. Why? Because you can get dirt cheap 21 inch monitors and they are likely to be better than a TV of the same price. Also, when HDTV hits, you have a 21 inch computer monitor, not a paperweight. Just my opinion. It's just that I don't think you'll be able to buy a NTSC set that will last 20 years anymore anyways. |
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TV Brand Recommendation
Apologise I forgot to mention that I am lookinig at 25 - 27 inch sets. What is
the situation with HDTV? Will regular broadcast be obsolete soon and I should only consider HDTV? All I really want is stereo, remote with RCA for VCR inputs, nothing fancy. |
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TV Brand Recommendation
WbSearch:
If you don't want anything "fancy" then don't pay the extra big bucks for HDTV yet..... wait for the product to mature and the prices to come down. The good news is that you can use whatever new analog television you purchase for a long time to come.... eventually you may need a converter box much like the cable boxes we all had decades ago...... also because of the eventual digital conversion, the prices of larger screen, full feature analog sets is at an all time low..... great time to buy and enjoy. -- Best Regards, Daniel Sofie Electronics Supply & Repair - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "WbSearch" wrote in message Apologise I forgot to mention that I am lookinig at 25 - 27 inch sets. What is the situation with HDTV? Will regular broadcast be obsolete soon and I should only consider HDTV? All I really want is stereo, remote with RCA for VCR inputs, nothing fancy. |
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TV Brand Recommendation
Does anyone have advice of TV brands not to consider?
Buy only Sony, Panasonic, Toshiba, JVC, Sharp, Hitachi, or Proton. I am particularly fond of Sony as I am a firm believer in Trinitron, but the others are very good and will cost less with comparable features. Don't consider the rest, particularly RCA, Philips, GE, Apex, Magnavox, Funai, Sylvania, and all the others. - Reinhart |
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Sharp TV Quality?
I have a 1995 model Sharp 27" TV that was purchased new in 1995 and while
it's not loaded with features and the stereo sound leaves a lot to be desired, it has a picture that just amazes me. I'm not about to swivel the thing around to get th emodel/chassic at this moment. I'm I tend to be very picky when it comes to CRT image quality since I sit in front of two 21" computer monitors all day and work with various others ranging from cheap **** to nicer Sun/SGI stuff. This Sharp has just very rich, vibrant colors, great geometry, and damned near perfect convergence all over the screen. No artifacts in the video, very clear image. Never has it been in for repair, but lately I've noticed that the picture starts to *slightly* *expand* when the A/C kicks on and the lights dim for a second. I suspect it's just capacitors getting weak because the image is rock solid all other times - even during high contrast scene changes. Anyhow, how often do you repair folks see Sharp TVs in for repair when they've failed on their own (Not lightning, physical damage, etc). I have really been impressed with the durability of this rather cheap set. Just curious, -Steve LASERandDVDfan wrote in message ... Does anyone have advice of TV brands not to consider? Buy only Sony, Panasonic, Toshiba, JVC, Sharp, Hitachi, or Proton. I am particularly fond of Sony as I am a firm believer in Trinitron, but the others are very good and will cost less with comparable features. Don't consider the rest, particularly RCA, Philips, GE, Apex, Magnavox, Funai, Sylvania, and all the others. - Reinhart |
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Sharp TV Quality?
Anyhow, how often do you repair folks see Sharp TVs in for repair when
they've failed on their own (Not lightning, physical damage, etc). Not often. Many Sharp sets usually come in for problems caused by cold solder joints, which happens to any television set. When the bad joints are located and fixed, the set usually works again. Other than that, it's hard to think up a situation where a Sharp set failed due to a defect that developed on its own. Others here may be able to relate their experiences, but so far, I've been impressed with Sharp as well. - Reinhart |
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TV Brand Recommendation
"William R. Walsh" m wrote in message news:%S%Ra.93857$ye4.65839@sccrnsc01... You don't mention Zenith/Goldstar/LG....what do you think of those sets? Personally, I'd like to help keep the "little guys" in business and many of them sell Zenith around here...most of them are excellent and honest repair techs as well...so I don't think they'd sell junk sets. William Go see if any of them have one of the 27" flat screen Zeniths. It'll knock your eyes out. You'll get varying opinions about Zenith, and they have made some lemons. On the other hand, I've seen some Zeniths made in Springfield, MO that are 20 years old, and will still throw an awesome picture. If your local merchants sell Zeniths, buy one. And if you want to make the little lady happy, they still make consoles. Buy with your eyes, and support your local economy. Screw the discount chain stores, especially Wal-Mart. Deke |
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TV Brand Recommendation
Muntz is not bad for the money if you can fix them yourself.
Don |
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TV Brand Recommendation
so someone bought the muntz name?
whos set are they rebadging? "Dbowey" wrote in message ... Muntz is not bad for the money if you can fix them yourself. Don |
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TV Brand Recommendation
"kc8adu" wrote in message ... so someone bought the muntz name? whos set are they rebadging? Muntz? I damm near forgot all about them |
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TV Brand Recommendation
Thinking about a new Magnavox, Sylvania, or Emerson television? They are
currently controlled by Funai Sylvania isn't Philips any more? When did that happen? Very recently. http://www.funai-corp.com/ And it looks like Magnavox may not be owned by Funai after all. In this case, they're probably still controlled by Philips, but a lot of their stuff is still made by Fuani. - Reinhart |
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TV Brand Recommendation
Just go find a set with the picture and features you like. The differences
between all sets are getting less and less. There is no longer a brand that knocks the others out. All brands have made adjustments to quality so they can compete in price. That's about it... "Deke" wrote in message news "LASERandDVDfan" wrote in message ... Go see if any of them have one of the 27" flat screen Zeniths. It'll knock your eyes out. Later on, look at the repair bill, it'll knock your wallet out! A little joke. Zeniths made in Springfield, MO that are 20 years old, and will still throw an awesome picture. That's 20 years ago. We are talking about Zenith within the span of seven years. They made some good sets in the past, specifically during the early to mid 1980s. However, their sets from the late 1980s and up to now are not that great. There are better, higher quality choices out there from Japanese brands. And if you want to make the little lady happy, they still make consoles. So does Thomson with some of their RCA console offerings. Buy with your eyes, and support your local economy. If you mean supporting an "American" company, think again. Zenith is no longer an American company. It is now owned by LG, which is based in South Korea, and has been for almost five years. No **** Sherlock. Didnt I say local economy? Zenith is as much of an American company as RCA is today. That point is quite valid as RCA is also not an American company anymore, being owned by Thomson, which is controlled by France. RCA went kaput as a corporate entity in 1986 and was bought by GE. GE would later sell RCA to Thomson, keeping only NBC to themselves. Thinking about a new Magnavox, Sylvania, or Emerson television? They are currently controlled by Funai, and they are one of the manufacturers which has earned the title of being the epitome of cheap crap in my informed opinion. Thanks for the lesson in common knowledge information. Screw the discount chain stores, especially Wal-Mart. Now, now. Some, but not all, of Wal-Mart's offerings are decent. They do sell Panasonic, just not a very good variety of that brand. For bargain fodder sets at Wal-Mart, consider Sanyo or Orion. You might even consider Philips, although I don't care that much for their current offerings at this time. The rest that's there you can forget about. - Reinhart They also sell Pioneer big screens, which are excellent TVs, but only from their web site. What they have on the floor has paid the rent for many repair shops, especially RCA. Deke |
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TV Brand Recommendation
If you mean supporting an "American" company, think again. Zenith is no
longer an American company. It is now owned by LG, which is based in South Korea, and has been for almost five years. No **** Sherlock. Didnt I say local economy? First off, there was no need for profanity. Secondly, what are you talking about in regards to "supporting the local economy?" If you mean the repair community, then okay, I can see where buying a Zenith would be advantageous to certain people, but ultimately at the expense of the customer. They also sell Pioneer big screens, which are excellent TVs, but only from their web site. Then what's the point of buying a big screen from Wal-Mart? You can't audition it without actually taking the plunge. You may have to pay for shipping and handling. The set may get damaged in transit. I'd rather buy a big screen from a store I can walk into and check it out for myself than go through the potential hassles of ordering a set online. - Reinhart |
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TV Brand Recommendation
"LASERandDVDfan" wrote in message ... If you mean supporting an "American" company, think again. Zenith is no longer an American company. It is now owned by LG, which is based in South Korea, and has been for almost five years. No **** Sherlock. Didnt I say local economy? First off, there was no need for profanity. Secondly, what are you talking about in regards to "supporting the local economy?" If you mean the repair community, then okay, I can see where buying a Zenith would be advantageous to certain people, but ultimately at the expense of the customer. They also sell Pioneer big screens, which are excellent TVs, but only from their web site. Then what's the point of buying a big screen from Wal-Mart? You can't audition it without actually taking the plunge. You may have to pay for shipping and handling. The set may get damaged in transit. I'd rather buy a big screen from a store I can walk into and check it out for myself than go through the potential hassles of ordering a set online. - Reinhart I agree completely. I buy most electronics locally, because the odds of something being defective are very high nowadays. It's nice to walk in and see what your getting face to face, and to be able to return it instantly if it has a problem. |
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