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Samsung's 55-inch LN55A950 LCD HDTV reviewed: exceptional and expensive
You already heard CNET's opinions on the 46-inch 950 series LCD HDTV, but what if that one just isn't big enough for your ego / den? Enter the 55-inch sibling, which was recently critiqued by the gurus over at Home Theater Mag. According to the review, the LN55A950 managed to deliver black levels eerily close to those emitted by Pioneer's famed KURO line, although the off-angle viewing was deemed mediocre. For those who found a way to sit relatively close to dead-on in front of it, image quality was said to be nothing short of fantastic. In fact, these guys recommended that you not buy another LCD HDTV until you've checked this one out first, although you should probably pay attention to the $4,000+ price tag before you waste any time warming to a set that's out of reach. Bottom line? This is a marvelous LCD for those with the cash to burn, but four large is a steep price to pay for awesomeness.
Sony's BRAVIA KDL-26M4000/R LCD HDTV reviewed
With all the big screen flat-panels cluttering up the HDTV arena, one may wonder if anyone's even paying attention to consumers clamoring for LCDs that can be handled by fewer than four burly gentlemen. Sony's BRAVIA KDL-26M4000/R is one set that fits better in a bedroom than a den, with a 26-inch panel and a 1,366 x 768 resolution. The gurus over at PC World were able to take the mid-sized set for a spin, and while it found that some tweaking was necessary out of the box in order to get the best possible HD quality, things were pretty swell once calibration was over. The built-in ATSC / NTSC / ClearQAM tuner did its job admirably well, and it also did a fantastic job of making SD content look as bearable as possible. The biggest knock against it was the price, which shouldn't be surprising for anyone who follows MSRPs of Sony TVs, as critics felt most folks would be happier spending less for similar sets.
Ask Engadget HD: What should I get on Black Friday?
This glorious day only comes once per year here in the United States, so you should know we're going to harp on it 'til it's over. We've ditched the usual Ask Engadget HD routine this week in favor of sparking up conversation about shopping, so have a read below: "No surprise, Black Friday 2008 is tomorrow. I don't particularly need anything, but I'm always down for an HD-related deal. I don't have time to shuffle through all those ads -- what are the best items to get, and where do I head to get 'em?"You've seen our breakdown of HD-related sales for Black Friday, but now it's time to toss in your votes for the best deals around. We know, it's slim pickings this year, but show us what ya got in comments.Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.[Image courtesy of Sun-Sentinel]
Silicon Mountain CEO interviewed, Allio Extreme outed
Believe it or not, Silicon Mountain has been around for some 14 years now, but it just recently splashed onto the consumer scene with its HTPC-infused Allio HDTV. Hailed as the first HDTV to offer an inbuilt Blu-ray drive, the set is likely just the beginning of what the company has to offer, or at least that's the vibe we get when reading through a recent interview with CEO Tré Cates. For starters, he mentioned a soon-to-come "Allio Effect," which sounds to be a customized internet TV portal to get you in front of interesting content quicker. The biggest news, however, was the Allio Extreme -- an upcoming (Q1 2009) version of the existing Allio that will boast an NVIDIA GPU and "be able to play Crysis." Furthermore, a cheaper Allio with Ubuntu is just around the bend, and if you're looking to buy in bulk, you could probably pick up a few sans an OS at all. Tap the read link for the full writeup should you please.
Panasonic reopens VIERA HDTV Concierge Service to the public
It's official: Panasonic reopens its VIERA HDTV Concierge Service to the public at large every single holiday season. This year, however, is different. Rather than shutting down the lines to all but those who actually own a VIERA HDTV on December 31st, Panny will keep the cords of communication open through February 17, 2009. Yep, from now until the Digital TV Transition takes place in America, any human with access to a phone can call in to receive all sorts of buying advice and subliminal encouragement to choose a Panasonic set over any other. If that sounds like something you'd be interested in, hit 'em with your best shot at 1-888-777-1170. Just mind the brainwashing and you'll be a-okay.
Vizio hacks prices on select HDTVs prior to Black Friday
We've already seen that a number of retailers will be offering Vizio HDTVs on the cheap this Friday (or Black Friday, as the in-crowd calls it these days), but the company is stealing a bit of their thunder by announcing cuts from the top a few days early. Vizio's 19-inch VA19 LCD will be offered for just $199.99 at Costco through December 7th, while the 32-inch VP322 plasma (pictured) will go for $437 at Walmart starting today. There's also the 37-inch VW37 LCD HDTV for $499.99 at Costco, the 32-inch 1080p VOJ32LF LCD for $559.99 at Sears and the 42-inch 1080p VS420 for $698 at Sam's Club. If none of these sets float your boat, check out our condensed guide to Black Friday: HD style for something more to your liking.
Silicon Mountain gets Allio HTPC-infused HDTV into ten more stores
Troubled by your one and only option for purchasing one of Silicon Mountain's unique Allio HDTVs? No worries -- the company has just landed deals with ten more e-tailers in order to give you a litany of options when it comes time to purchase. Internet mainstays like Amazon, PC Mall, CompUSA, DataVision, TigerDirect and Safari Micro made the cut, all agreeing to offer the PC-in-an-HDTV that was recently loosed upon the unsuspecting public. Time to price compare, kids.
Sony's BRAVIA EX1 / ZX1 HDTVs arrive in the UK
Wouldn't you know it? The world's slimmest LCD HDTV and one of the only wireless HDTVs have both arrived in unison in the United Kingdom. Without much fanfare, Sony has delivered the 9.9-millimeter thin KDL-40ZX1 (pictured) / KDL-52EX1 and the likely-WHDI-enabled KDL-40ZX1 / KDL-46EX1 to regions across the pond, though these beauties won't come with you relieving your wallet of some serious poundage. The KDL-40ZX1 gets going at £2,339, and it only gets wilder from there.[Thanks, Marcos]
HANNspree's 28-inch 1080p HT09 LCD HDTV comes to America for $500
Just in time for brands like Vizio, Panasonic, Sony and Sanyo to undercut it on Black Friday, HANNspree has swooped in and delivered its bedroom-sized 1080p LCD HDTV to the great lands of North America. The set, which was made available a few months prior in the UK, claims to be the planet's first 28-inch "1080p" HDTV, with a native 1,920 x 1,200 resolution, two HDMI ports, a VGA socket, integrated ATSC / NTSC / Clear QAM tuner, 3-millisecond response time, 3,000:1 contrast ratio, stereo speakers (5-watts x 2), audio in / out ports and an Energy Star 3.0 sticker for good measure. Not too shabby for $499.99, and we'd count on finding it even cheaper given the current level of competition in the sector.
Philips LED-backlit 42PFL9803H gets hands-on treatment
You knew it was coming, didn't you? Given that the LED-backlit 42PFL9803H just went on sale across the pond a few weeks back, it was only a matter of time before someone got their grubby paws around it and snapped a few photos. ElectricPig managed to do just that, and aside from giving us a look at the new set, they also stated that it was practically as good -- if not better -- that Pioneer's KURO in terms of contrast. 'Course, that's exactly what Philips was aiming for all along, but it's good to hear we've finally got some competition in the darkness space, regardless. Have a look in the read link below.
Sharp's 108-inch LCD HDTV goes Down Under
It has already taken Dubai, Las Vegas and now-sunk Somali pirate ships by storm, but Sharp's 108-inch behemoth has yet to officially launch in Australia... until now. Yep, starting today, Aussies with AU$169,000 to burn can order up their very own LB-1085, which offers a viewing area of around 3.2 square meters and a native 1080p resolution. The only question that remains is: how much is delivery to Cockatoo Island?
Sharp plans to cut LCD panel production by as much as 10%
Sharp hasn't cut production in its Kameyana plant since it began operating in 2004, but it's dangerously close to dialing things back a bit. As with practically every other flat-panel manufacturer out there, Sharp is feeling the pinch of the worldwide economic crisis, and as demand weakens for LCD TVs / LCD monitors, it's looking like now is an opportune time to slow things down. Purportedly, the company is considering scaling back production by as much as 10% from mid-December, though it is still expecting to reach sales of 11 million LCD TVs in the year ending March 2009.
Vizio intros 55-inch 1080p XVT HDTV, soundbar, more goodies
Chrismakwanzika has come early for anyone remotely interested in Vizio kit, and quite honestly, even for those that aren't. From the top, we've got the 55-inch VF550XVT1A, a 1080p HDTV with 120Hz Smooth Motion Video technology, a 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, five HDMI inputs, SRS TruSurround HD and a $1,999 MSRP. Next up is the firm's own soundbar and wireless subwoofer kit (VSB210WS), which has finally escaped rumor purgatory to pop official. The kit sports four 3-inch speakers alongside a single 1-inch tweeter for each channel, and the long throw 6.5-inch subbie makes sure the lows are well addressed, too. Just a single cable is needed to connect the VSB210WS to any flat-panel, and just $349.99 is needed to bring it home. On deck are a trio of smaller LCDs: the 19-inch VA19 ($249.99), 22-inch VA22 ($349.99) and 26-inch VA26 ($449.99), with the middle guy becoming Vizio's smallest 1080p HDTV ever. Closing things out is the 26-inch VMM26, a 25.5-inch "multimedia monitor" with a 1,920 x 1,200 resolution, HDMI / USB ports, touch-activated menus and a $429.99 sticker. All but the first two products mentioned are on sale now, while the first two will be available just before your '09 Super Bowl bash.
Sony's Green Glove recycling service hauls away your old TV when buying a BRAVIA
Apparently launching its Take Back Recycling Program just wasn't enough for Sony Electronics, who has now announced a Green Glove delivery service for those looking to have a new 32-inch (or greater) BRAVIA HDTV delivered. At its core, the service provides in-home delivery and setup of one's new HDTV, and the same kind folks who show up to handle that also haul away your old set for recycling. Or to sell it on eBay, you never know.[Via I4U News, image courtesy of CtrlAltDel-Online]
Hitachi's 37-inch UltraThin UT37X902 LCD HDTV reviewed: quirky, yet stunning
If you're gunning for a mid-sized HDTV this holiday season, the chances are relatively high you've paid at least a small bit of attention to Hitachi's 37-inch UT37X902. An integral crew member of the 1.5 UltraThin family, this here set was recently taken for a ride over at CNET, and unfortunately for fans, they weren't entirely pleased. Now look, even they couldn't give a cold shoulder to the beautiful design and exceptional thinness, and the "solid" picture quality, "relatively" deep black levels and "accurate" color were all lauded. The kicker, though, is that it's mighty expensive (around $1,900), had a tendency to introduce blues in very dark scenes, offered few ports and boasted a poorly integrated optional AV center. What's it all mean? It still managed to a net a 3.5 out of 5 stars, so if money ain't a thang, you just might be alright here; those on a budget, however, may be disappointed in the value proposition.
Honeywell's 42-inch Altura MLX HDTV gets dreadful review
We know what you're thinking: "A Honeywell HDTV?" Sad to say, the answer is "yes, really," and it fared about as terribly as you probably expected it to. The 42-inch Altura MLX, which is formally known as the MT-HWJCT42B2AB, was recently critiqued by the crew over at CNET, and honestly, all's that really important is the summary. The relatively low price ($1,064 MSRP) and accurate primary colors were minor wins, but the light blacks, incorrect gamma, impossible-to-turn-off dejudder processing, poor off-angle performance, no backlight control and a bevy of other niggles planted it squarely in the "mediocre" category. In other words: "Next?"
Haier's 47-inch HL47K LCD HDTV gets reviewed, doesn't fare so well
When you think of top-tier HDTV brands, there's a phenomenally good chance that "Haier" isn't in the top five ten. Thus, it ought to be no surprise to learn that the outfit's latest LCD HDTV didn't receive the highest marks in CNET's recent review. The budget-minded set had a fairly decent design and an equally delicious price (just $1,599 MSRP), and the three HDMI inputs (plus one PC input) were certainly adequate. However, the unit displayed "significant uniformity issues including uneven backlight and discoloration across the screen," and when coupled with the light blacks, less-than-accurate color temperature and the inability to change aspect ratio with HD sources, critics were left with no choice but to call the kettle black. Looks like it's back to choosing which Vizio you really like, huh?
Sharp's 46-inch AQUOS LC-46D65U reviewed: good HDTV, not so good remote
It's a good thing companies are out there toiling away on masterfully created universal remotes, because it looks like you'll be needing one with the purchase of Sharp's AQUOS LC-46D65U. The 46-inch set, which was unveiled at CEDIA 2008, was recently reviewed over at Digital Advisor, and as with most big screen HDTVs, critics found plenty to love and detest. It was stated that the unit handled pure 1080p content "like a dream," showing off Blu-ray Discs with images that were "sharp, crisp and brilliant." Unfortunately, it didn't hold up so well when handed a fresh serving of SD material, so those still halfway in the past may want to take note. Additionally, the bundled remote was said to be frustrating in every way possible, though the copious amount of inputs did put a smile on their faces. All in all, the set was deemed a good bargain for the $1,300 or so it's selling for online, but make sure you factor in a Harmony of some sort before sealing that budget.[Thanks, Michael]
Sharp's limited edition XS1 LCD HDTV comes to Canada
Not content with just loosing the succulent (and oh-so-silver) XS1 LCD HDTV in the UK, Sharp has just announced that the limited edition set can now be procured in Canada. It's available in two sizes -- the 65-inch LC-65XS1U or the 52-inch LC-52XS1U -- and both units boast a 10-bit Advanced Super View 1080p panel, 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, an ultra-slim design that is just 0.9-inches thick at the thinnest point and an all new RGB-LED backlight system that creates "the clearest and brightest screen that Sharp has ever produced." Too bad the little guy rings up at a penny under 12 grand while the big fellow checks in at $15,999.99. Oh, our bad -- didn't mean to startle you like that.
JVC's 47-inch LT-47X899 1080p LCD HDTV review roundup
With the plethora of 40-some-odd-inch HDTVs with 120Hz dejudder technology, it's tough for a name like JVC to cut through the marketing campaigns of those other guys. That said, the 47-inch LT-47X899 is a solid, if not upper-level set that's easy to overlook, but a glance around the web proves that you probably shouldn't. For starters, the 120Hz tech built in here actually improves the image quality -- something that can't be said about all sets. Furthermore, it produced crisp, clear details, excellent screen uniformity and a decent array of ports... at least in most eyes. One particular review found the image quality subpar for the price (around $1,900 on the street), so we'd probably suggest having a look in-store before buying blind. There's plenty more reading material below if you're interested.Read - Home Theater reviewRead - Sound & Vision reviewRead - TelevisionInfo reviewRead - UltimateAVmag review
