MAG Innovision 32" LCD TV

[flash75]

Guys, thanks for your replies. Man, am I ever getting tired of the speed of technology! I'll definitely be keeping my HK DVD 22 since I just recently bought it. I think I might stay a little "behind" in technology as I know the new generation of HD dvd's are going to cost a premium. Lately i've been picking up dvd's for pretty cheap $15 cdn and sometimes $10 cdn (what for though I don't even have a tv now haahah). So all i need is an HD ready tv which has proven no easy task. I swear i should be writing for cnet! Now, for my latest review:

ACER 32" LCD bought from the Bay for $1450 cdn. I was hoping this would be my last purchase, but after an hour or 2 of tinkering, I packaged it up for return tomorrow. The geometry of the tv is perfect and the brightness sufficient. What really impressed me was that its scaling blew the MAG out of the water. Where the MAG was grainy, the Acer was acceptable. It wasn't perfect and chrystal but it was much improved over the MAG. The MAG however was brighter and showed colours nicer. What I didn't like about the Acer was that the black background showed too much light coming through, much like the Viewsonic I previewed. The MAG destroyed the Acer in this category. And most annoyingly was a fan noise that was audible at a low volume level and even more so was a high pitch tone coming from the back...enough to drive me crazy. SO overall I decided that I will NEVER purchase a non-brand name anything ever again. However I would buy an Acer computer/laptop.

It has been a pretty good learning experience the last week or so. So now I either have to shell out about $3000 for a Sharp or Samsung, OR decide to go the 26" route which I really don't want to. I looked at crt's once again but their inability to show straight lines turned me off. And for some reason I noticed some with flicker (although it might of had composite inputs). The size/weight thing turns me off as well. So i'll have to re-think my options. Since Costco has such a great refund policy (could go 6 months full money back no prob) I might go back and get the Viewsonic as a temp. solution until the prices fall at xmas and then get my dream 32" lcd.

So my advice is ONLY buy Sharp or Samsung. I would say Sony for LCD possibly because they do look good. One sales person said that Sony uses Samsung LCD screens? But I did see a 32" sony on display that had weird looking vertical lines in a black background.

The Seinfeld dvd's look terrible. What a pain. Hopefully they will only get better when newer seasons are released. Fortunately they make me laugh so hard that I don't pay much attention. I only watch them in their original 4:3 aspect.

EdwardGein, can you provide the ebay link for this audio cable you speak of? I was planning on using just a regular 75 ohm coaxial since I heard they sound a little better than fibre and that it either works or doesn't. But i'd be willing to experiment.

Anyways, i'll keep everyone posted of what i buy next! Probably a Sharp and Samsung review coming up! I had a couple of 24 and 27" crts before (sony and panny) but the major flicker and scan lines drove me crazy at 6.5-7 feet. I LOVE the look of the lcd picture however with the budget lcd's i have purchased I have not been amazed at dvd picture quality.

[EdwardGein]

I'm not sure about your size limitiations but I totally recommend the Mitsubushi 48" HD TV Mitsubishi WS-48315 which you can now get for less than $1400 including shipping. Its the best Tv I've ever had. This is a rear projector widescreen CRT.

[flash75]

hey thanks for the reccomendation, but yeah i'm pretty limited in a small apartment so i'm thinking 32" in the sweetspot. Plus, I don't really like the look of the "larger" screens...too much grain or screen door effect, although it seems like you are happy with the Mits.

I think i'm gonna "rent" the 27" viewsonic from costco until after christmas. I know lcd prices will drop big time come then and with boxing day sales i should be able to save $1000 I bet. I'll deal with the 27 until then...it's small and easy to transport and the only gripe I had was the black level.

[flash75]

Well, i'm back. This time it will be a review of the Sony 32" lcd from costco for $2500 cdn and the Samsung LN-R327 (last years model) from Best Buy for $2000 cdn.

The Sony is -definitely- not worth the money in my opinion. The scaler was respectable, but not as good as the Samsung. The black level was about the same, not bad, but the vertical overscan was off. The Samsung's overscan was bang on. So therefore, for the extra money, the Sony is completely out of the picture so I won't even continue with it.

The Samsung on the other hand is so far the current winner of all the lcd's I have "reviewed" to date. The only gripe I have with it is the "dynamic contrast" and "auto brightness" features...i think they are both completely useless. The dynamic contrast makes things look too dark and inky and the auto bright goes too dark as well. I guess you don't have to use them. With them off the picture is great, detailed, and the scaler is the best i've seen...VERY little grain. I'm sure this year's model is even better. Anyone know if they have improved anything?

I have yet to review the Sharp 32" however from what i've seen it has better blacks (can't notice as much light coming through on a black background) however it seemed like the picture isn't as bright (obviously) and not as sharp as the Samsung. So it seems to be a trade off - bright/sharp or better black/soft.

The quest for the perfect 32" lcd continues. I've narrowed it down now to the Samsung LN-R328W or the Sharp 32" GA5U.

Any suggestions?

[EdwardGein]

You ought to have your own magazine or newspaper column. I love the idea of you "renting". Keep it up! Maybe you can expand to other things, too!

Hey some guy made good money proving to the world that with just a computer he never had to leave his apartment- big Fing deal. But you, you can take "renting" to another level! I salute you!

[flash75]

Hahaha...thanks! And to top things off, I just made over $500 because the girl was new and refunded me too much! I didn't realize it until I was home so now I have a little devil and angel on each shoulder...hehehe.

I just got back from future shop...sony has a 32" and 40" XBR1 lcd that simply looks amazing!

And now the LG's are starting to look real nice too...hmmmm...decisions decisions. What a fun hobby!

[EdwardGein]

This is the first time in my life I wish I knew how to drive a car because I'd do exactly what you're doing. I hope none of these stores have your name on their "List". Maybe you'll take requests too. Can you see what the differences are in $150 versus $350 DVD recorders? MP3 players (that one I can actually do but am too lazy). You're better then consumer reports!