Torn between two: Sharp vs Toshiba

[MDS]

So I will pull the trigger and buy a 52" LCD around Thanksgiving.

I'm still somewhat torn between the Sharp D82U and the Toshiba LX177.

I saw the Sharp today at Sears and they had the remotes out. I adjusted the backlight and contrast/brightness very low and for the life of me I just can't see the 'banding' artififacts that people have claimed. I haven't been able to make the same adjustments to the Toshiba because the only place that carries it does not allow you to mess with the TV settings (I guess their customers make a decision in two minutes by viewing their best of the best HD feed).

So...anybody with a Sharp. Do you notice 'banding'? Is it a big deal or not? I kind of like the Toshiba due to all of the controls it provides but it may have its own problems. None of these sets are perfect.

In the store showroom at least, they ALL look pretty good.

 

[avaserfi]

I have a Sharp that some have claimed to have banding and as I am sure you have read many times, despite my looking for banding quiet often, when I first got the set, I have never seen any.

As far as Sharp vs Toshiba the panels seem to be fairly similar to me with perhaps a slight lead going to the Toshiba in terms of black level, but this was never done side by side with the same source so nothing definitive can be said.

You have always had a Toshiba slant and I can understand that as the banding issue was a worry for me when I bought my set, pre-Toshiba days, and I was worried, but it all turned out well.

If I were you I would get the set that you could get the best deal on as you say they both look good to you.

 

[Tomorrow]

MDS,

There is always the home audition. Make certain the store has a good return policy. Buy the one that most appeals to your requirements and if you're unhappy in any way with it, return it, ala loudspeakers. (That's a good reason for shopping at Costco, by the way.)

 

[Hi Ho]

I have installed many Sharp LCD sets (mostly 52 D92 and 46 D62) and I have never spotted the banding phenomenon.

 

[mtrycrafts]

So I will pull the trigger and buy a 52" LCD around Thanksgiving.

I'm still somewhat torn between the Sharp D82U and the Toshiba LX177.

I saw the Sharp today at Sears and they had the remotes out. I adjusted the backlight and contrast/brightness very low and for the life of me I just can't see the 'banding' artififacts that people have claimed. I haven't been able to make the same adjustments to the Toshiba because the only place that carries it does not allow you to mess with the TV settings (I guess their customers make a decision in two minutes by viewing their best of the best HD feed).

So...anybody with a Sharp. Do you notice 'banding'? Is it a big deal or not? I kind of like the Toshiba due to all of the controls it provides but it may have its own problems. None of these sets are perfect.

In the store showroom at least, they ALL look pretty good.

Not sure if this is a concern for you but the TV frame color, or rather it being gloss black or flat black may be important for light reflections and annoyances. I have the same decision but on a smaller set and it is coming down to flat black box as the gloss is too distracting.

 

[Tomorrow]

Not sure if this is a concern for you but the TV frame color, or rather it being gloss black or flat black may be important for light reflections and annoyances. I have the same decision but on a smaller set and it is coming down to flat black box as the gloss is too distracting.

I thought this to be true and for the same reason began shying away from the Panasonic plasmas and their shiny black bezels. Then I saw a similar looking Samsung at a friend's house. It's really not distracting after but a moment of watching...even with lights fully reflecting. So now I'm back to coveting the Pannies. YMMV.

 

[MDS]

Remember the AV industry follows the 'me too' attitude for aesthetics. I haven't seen one LCD TV that does not have a glossy piano black bezel.

Sharp has added a blue LED for the power button. One of the Samsung models had it too. Just wait, next model year Toshiba will follow suit so that they all have annoying blue LEDs.

 

[Tomorrow]

Remember the AV industry follows the 'me too' attitude for aesthetics. I haven't seen one LCD TV that does not have a glossy piano black bezel. .

The Panasonic Viera LCD doesn't have one. It's a lovely flat black...which is what all the dang manufacturers should use on all their models.

 

[MDS]

Panasonic Viera, huh? I've never seen one around here.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I thought this to be true and for the same reason began shying away from the Panasonic plasmas and their shiny black bezels. Then I saw a similar looking Samsung at a friend's house. It's really not distracting after but a moment of watching...even with lights fully reflecting. So now I'm back to coveting the Pannies. YMMV.

So far when I visit showrooms and watch, I notice the reflections in the frames. Maybe I might not notice them in time at home but I would have some of those distracting light on to cause such reflections. So, I am at a crossroad on that. The 720 Sharp doesn't have, or didn't have it gloss but was more than Tosh.

 

[gus6464]

So I will pull the trigger and buy a 52" LCD around Thanksgiving.

I'm still somewhat torn between the Sharp D82U and the Toshiba LX177.

I saw the Sharp today at Sears and they had the remotes out. I adjusted the backlight and contrast/brightness very low and for the life of me I just can't see the 'banding' artififacts that people have claimed. I haven't been able to make the same adjustments to the Toshiba because the only place that carries it does not allow you to mess with the TV settings (I guess their customers make a decision in two minutes by viewing their best of the best HD feed).

So...anybody with a Sharp. Do you notice 'banding'? Is it a big deal or not? I kind of like the Toshiba due to all of the controls it provides but it may have its own problems. None of these sets are perfect.

In the store showroom at least, they ALL look pretty good.

I used to own a Toshiba 42HL167 which is the model below the LX cinema series. I had it for 2 months before the panel went out but it was a good tv. One thing I would recommend you check as some have a green push problem is to turn the tv on but just have it showing a black screen. Stand a bit off angle from the screen and if you notice some dark green looking spots on the panel you will have the set push green in those areas. There is a defect on some of the panels that toshiba uses for the new Regza LCDs and that is the easiest way to spot if your panel is affected.

 

[MDS]

Yes, the potential for green push is on my mind. Although 'studdad' on the AVS forums is a bit over the top, I do fear that I could be unlucky and get one of the few that exhibits the problem.

FWIW, the one I saw at the store did not appear to have any problems.

 

[Hi Ho]

I have installed sets in a large variety of settings from very bright family rooms lined with windows and lights to dark dedicated theater rooms. Most of these sets have had a glossy black bezel. I have never seen any bothersom reflections from the bezel. I have never figured out what people are seeing. I think the glossy bezels are very sleek looking and actually prefer them.

What really bothers me is glossy screens. Some of the new Samsung LCD sets have a rediculous glossy cover on the LCD which makes it worse than a plasma that doesn't have an anti-glare coating because the plastic is uneven and wavy.

 

[gus6464]

Yes, the potential for green push is on my mind. Although 'studdad' on the AVS forums is a bit over the top, I do fear that I could be unlucky and get one of the few that exhibits the problem.

FWIW, the one I saw at the store did not appear to have any problems.

Yeah he was definitely trolling more than actually contributing something useful. Although by looking at the screen off angle with a black picture is probably the easiest way to see if your set will exhibit the green push. Mine had a big spot on the bottom right corner and upon hooking up my new plasma with the ps3 I could tell that the green that the toshiba was showing on that part was not actually supposed to be there.