Sony Wega vs. Samsung DLP...in SD mode

[snacking]

Great Forum everyone...wish I had found this years ago when I bought my Samsung DLP 5085 pedastal unit. Love my TV - although the rainbow effect a bit annoying plus my Screen Watermark issues have gotten worse over the years.

ANYWAY...looking to buy my Dad a new set for his 60th bday...with budget in mind...2 great deals up here in Canada right now for older 46" Sony Wega LCD Rear Projection (KDF46E2000) and 46" Samsung DLP Rear Projection (HLS4676S).

I've done good deal of searching the forums and old posts...a lot of arguments can be made for both...BUT wondering which will stand up to STANDARD DEFINITION programming the best. My Dad will be slow to get into the HD mode...and no doubt he'll watch a lot of old shows on old channels in SD. I fpersonally find SD channels lousy on my Samsung....but no idea about Sony models.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer!

Cheers,
Snacks.

 

[pmckay]

There is a difference!

I spent some time reviewing the pictures on the Sony and the Samsung in all modes of reception. In SD, the Sony is measurably clearer. I have had the dealer place the TV's next to one another for the test. In other modes, the difference was much closer. In general, the Samsung was brighter, but the Sony was slightly sharper; but in a room by itself, either would by agreeable...but not in SD.

 

[SamW]

Tough Call

Yeesh...a standard definition question...is a tough question. HD has taken the viewing experience so far that I can't stand to watch any non-HD TV anymore 'cause it's like watching TV without my glasses on (and I have 20/450 vision) - everything is so blurry.

That said I understand 'cause I had to get a TV for my mother who is old enough that she's technologically illiterate and doesn't know the difference between a DVD and a VHS.

My suggestion for non HD TV is size is actually more important than brand. Smaller is better. My mother's TV is less than 32 inches and at that size the non HD picture is nearly tolerable to me.

If you're set on the 46in screen...then I think the Sony may have the edge. 'Course probably not enough to make up any price difference if the Samsung is less expensive.

 

[pzaur]

I spent some time reviewing the pictures on the Sony and the Samsung in all modes of reception. In SD, the Sony is measurably clearer. I have had the dealer place the TV's next to one another for the test. In other modes, the difference was much closer. In general, the Samsung was brighter, but the Sony was slightly sharper; but in a room by itself, either would by agreeable...but not in SD.

I would look into the Samsung LED DLPs. They can be had for a reasonable price and the half-life on the brightness output is 25,000-30,000 hours. It's also EnergyStar rated and quiet.

Any difference in picture brightness can easily be manipulated. If you're comparing them in store, you're doing yourself a huge disservice. They never set them up properly and most likely just opened the box up and set them on the display floor without any adjustment. Brighter does not equal better.

Snacking -
You say that your father is slow to pick up on the HD programming. Why? All the major broadcast channels have an HD station and the Samsung has an HD tuner built in. Easy enough to pull them in and then watch it. Heck, I get three, THREE PBS channels in Phoenix being broadcast on the digital spectrum (off an antenna made of coat hangers and speaker wire). Cable only brings me one.

HDTVs make SD programming look horrible. End of story. The picture is clearer and any defect in the picture/signal is magnified. Don't let your Dad off easy on this and force the issue. He'll thank you later. 4:3 programming is basically obsolete, so, he had better get used to the 16:9 format soon.

I'll bet that he's intimidated by the new technology and doesn't want to change. Life happens and that's change.

-pat

 

[pzaur]

plus my Screen Watermark issues have gotten worse over the years.

"Screen Watermark"? Do you clean your screen with liquid cleaner? If you do, that is a HUGE no-no! There are minute tubes on the screen that suck water up the tubes when cleaned. Don't ever use a liquid on your DLP screen. Soft, dry cloth only! The only way I'm aware to fix this problem is to replace the screen.

I'm assuming that the picture on this page is what you're talking about.

-pat

 

[snacking]

Thanks for advice...

Thanks all for advice...went with the Sony Wega 46". Set it up beside my Samsung DLP to compare - definitely better with SD but very similar in HD.

PAT - issue with my Dad embracing HD is simply the cost - he'll have to upgrade his sat receiver plus pay for programming - maybe it will be a xmas present from us - but you're right - needs to be done. The Sony I bought does have a tuner, unfortunately my Dad is about 1.5 hours from Toronto and I assume won't pick up signals...but we'll certainly try.

As for my Samsung and 'watermark issues'...nothing to do with cleaning...came like that out of the box...apparently its moisture trapped in the screen layers - close to the side edges - and only seen at some viewing angles. Its subtle...noticeable on solid colour backgrounds like a Simpsons show or Hockey game. And it goes away after TV warms up. Tech support at the time said they could replace the screen but the issue (at the time) was in all their DLP's. That said - at the time it was in my opinion still the best tv for the buck and I settled.

Cheers,
Snacking