More on the HT and audio for exercise room

Posted by DavidLD (A) on March 11, 2008 at 05:26:12

more additions, link below. This whole setup is working pretty well now.
I'm running 2.1 sound using a "T" amp and a DIY sub. The room doesn't lend itself to 5.1. This works quite well on American Idol running in HDTV. The 32-inch Panasonic is a really great LCD panel for a bunch of different reasons, very good contrast, wide viewing angle, very bright, saturated colors.

I've more or less divided the LCD panel manufacturers into three groups

1. Well known Japanese names: Panasonic/JVC, Sony, Toshiba

2.Korean headquartered firms: Samsung and LG (LG is what became of Goldstar). The Samsungs and LG models seem to be priced similarly to the brands in group 1, but for the same $ I would prefer one of the group 1 brands.
(I'm not sure where Sharp fits into all of this as their top stuff seems competitive with 1, but I also hear they make cheaper quality stuff on contract that is not as good quality)

3. Nearly everyone else, all basically of Chinese manufacture. Many of these have familiar names, Polaroid, Magnavox, RCA, Emerson, Zenith, Sylvania, but I think all of these names are basically owned by Chinese headquartered firms or are names US companies have decided to attach to flat panels of Chinese manufacture. There are two of these manufacturers whose sets appear to test out better than the others. Theser two are Visio and Olevia. Then there are some odd ones that show up at the various big box stores. These include Element (Circuit City), Dynex (Best Buy) and Brooksonic (hhgregg). Also Best Buy markets panels under their house brand "Insignia".

In my view the flat panels to beat still come from Sony, Panasonic and Toshiba, tho they tend to be a more expensive than the other brands. Samsung seems to have had its problems in dealing with customers after the purchase. Not sure about LG. CR seems to like the Chinese Visio and Olevia, as very good but not quite the equal of those in the first group. Insignia panels also seem to test out well. The rest are more difficult to figure out. I think the "cheap(er)" panel to beat is the Visio.

Interestingly, my Panasonic is made at a plant in Mexico not China. If anyone has more info on sorting this all out and who makes what and where I would appreciate the info. People keep asking me for advice on what to buy for some strange reason. Wal-Mart used to market panels under the ilo brand name but recently these have disappeared in favor of Visio, Emerson, Polaroid et al.

D

flat panel in exercise room (Open in New Window)

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Topic - More on the HT and audio for exercise room - DavidLD 05:26:12 03/11/08 (0)

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