Konka LCD TV

[Manxman]

http://www.dse.co.nz/dse.shop/4a5474d0002d43cc273fc0a87f3b06bd/Product/View/GE6497

Any informed opinions on on what they're like????

[vindy500]

nope but my guess is they would be shit :)

[Slicksta]

Shit thats cheap for 1080p find out who makes there panels

[p.dath]

I tend to stick to brand names I have heard off. At least you know you'll be able to get parts and get it serviced if it breaks down.

[hayd3n]

sounds like something to wife would use if ya ever cheated

[Big Dave]

I have one that Dick Smith were keen to get rid of. Cheap. You get what you pay for.

Movies and general TV DVD - Fair.

Computer Monitor or Sports TV. Not very good. Grainy or Pixelated.


Edit - Oops - I have a much cheaper / smaller Model

[MattRSK]

That's 1500 dollars! Wait till Harvey Norman have a sale and get a good Sony/Panasonic/Samsung for that price!!!!!!!! Just don't by the monster cable they will try and force on you.

[p.dath]

That's 1500 dollars! Wait till Harvey Norman have a sale and get a good Sony/Panasonic/Samsung for that price!!!!!!!! Just don't by the monster cable they will try and force on you.

+1. Especially if buying HDMI cables. If the cable is compliant with the spec, it is compliant with the spec. Getting a more expensive cable compliant with the same spec will make *zero* difference (unless perhaps you are getting a really long cable - 20m+).
HDMI transmits the picture digitally.

[sosman]

Go to a shop that has lots of LCD tv's...playing the same Dvd/movie at once.
:Then stair at each & every one for long periods of time!..
:Make up yr mind
:Jingle bells sorted:niceone:

[Skyryder]

http://www.dse.co.nz/dse.shop/4a5474d0002d43cc273fc0a87f3b06bd/Product/View/GE6497

Any informed opinions on on what they're like????

If the price is right maybe. I'd need to know what kind of service and availbility of parts.

http://konka.manufacturer.globalsources.com/si/6008800555875/Homepage.htm

NZ is going to get more of Chinese made goods thanks to the Chinese Trade agreement.

Many thought this trade deal was good for NZ export and manufacture and so it might be but the down side is that if we sell we also gota buy and there is the real possibility of cheap shonky goods that is going to be flooded into the NZ market.

But having said that I can remember a time when Japanese goods were considered inferior in much the same way as Chinese goods are today so I'd have a good look at it. Could be OK


Skyryder

[jrandom]

Just don't by the monster cable they will try and force on you.

Expensive digital hi-fi cables are hilarious, as are the people who buy them and then go to work and plug their laptops into cables that cost $5/metre and carry signals with ten or a hundred times more bandwidth.

None of them ever seem to notice that.

[Headbanger]

Having witnessed a Konker in action I'd have to say it was the second worst LCD I have ever had the misfortune to sit in front of. Not worth buying at any price, and that price isn't cheap.

[slofox]

Konka, huh? More like Konk Out I bet...

[Big Dave]

Having witnessed a Konker in action I'd have to say it was the second worst LCD I have ever had the misfortune to sit in front of. Not worth buying at any price, and that price isn't cheap.

I use an expensive apple cinema for main work and as cheap as I can get for a second - for psd pallettes and word docs and stuff. I spend a lot of time converting documents or media lately so a cheap big screen is easy real estate.

I got a 22" Konka Monitor/TV for $275. 'Shop display - very good for you sir'.

The dude lied to me about the cable too.

And I still have a large Konka.

[YellowDog]

Expensive digital hi-fi cables are hilarious, as are the people who buy them and then go to work and plug their laptops into cables that cost $5/metre and carry signals with ten or a hundred times more bandwidth.

None of them ever seem to notice that.
The way cables are priced really is quite interesting.

$1-$2 cables seem to come in $13.99 packaging.

I have however found that the cheaper priced Chinese cables do tend to fall apart if you unplug and replug them more than half a dozen times.

Regarding the cheap TV, I got the wife a 24" one for the bedroom (a TV). The make I got is Kogan, which is probably very similar to what you are looking at.

The main thing about the cheap TVs is that the sound quality tends to be very poor (fine for the bedroom) and they usually have a low contrast ratio displays (fine for the bedroom).

IMO - Forget 1080p. It's bollox and unless you want to use a Playstation or BlueRay player, there's no point. You can pick up a recognised brand 1080i TV with an excellent picture and great sound very cheaply from any of the big stores.

[Headbanger]

I use an expensive apple cinema for main work and as cheap as I can get for a second - for psd pallettes and word docs and stuff. I spend a lot of time converting documents or media lately so a cheap big screen is easy real estate.

I got a 22" Konka Monitor/TV for $275. 'Shop display - very good for you sir'.

The dude lied to me about the cable too.

And I still have a large Konka.

So.....You got ripped off twice. my sympathies.:2thumbsup And well done on the large Konka.

I have a 22" ASUS LCD, I use it for viewing porn and violent video games.

[RantyDave]

IMO - Forget 1080p. It's bollox
Ohh, another grumpy 768 line owner. Forget it man, trailing edge already.

Dave

[Big Dave]

So.....You got ripped off twice. my sympathies.:2thumbsup And well done on the large Konka.

I have a 22" ASUS LCD, I use it for viewing porn and violent video games.

I didn't buy the cable.
And I still have a bigger Konka than you.

The plan is/was to use my Konka in the bedroom ;) as a TV - and get a nice Dell for the studio.

They were down to four Hundy last I looked.

Using my Konka three times in one post is also quite enjoyable.

The apple cinema displays are mint though. they last better than anything else I've used and have to spent the coin for my gig.

[YellowDog]

Ohh, another grumpy 768 line owner. Forget it man, trailing edge already.

Dave
Mate, I have a real (1080p 15k:1 contrast ratio, surround sound) jobbie in my living room. It's the bollox.

But unless it is you main TV, any old shite Flat screen TV will do.

[Manxman]

If the price is right maybe. I'd need to know what kind of service and availbility of parts.

http://konka.manufacturer.globalsources.com/si/6008800555875/Homepage.htm

NZ is going to get more of Chinese made goods thanks to the Chinese Trade agreement.

Many thought this trade deal was good for NZ export and manufacture and so it might be but the down side is that if we sell we also gota buy and there is the real possibility of cheap shonky goods that is going to be flooded into the NZ market.

But having said that I can remember a time when Japanese goods were considered inferior in much the same way as Chinese goods are today so I'd have a good look at it. Could be OK

Skyryder
Appreciate the input Skyryder.

[skidMark]

That's 1500 dollars! Wait till Harvey Norman have a sale and get a good Sony/Panasonic/Samsung for that price!!!!!!!! Just don't by the monster cable they will try and force on you.


You need your eyes checked bro... its 699...

[RantyDave]

Mate, I have a real (1080p 15k:1 contrast ratio, surround sound) jobbie in my living room. It's the bollox.
I shall obtain one just as soon as certain members of my household grow up enough to not throw toy cars at it. Or try to feed it vegemite sandwiches.

Dave

[ajturbo]

fuck... you really get pissed!!!

love to party with you some time..

[onearmedbandit]

I work in the industry, go with a recognised brand like Sony, Samsung or Panasonic. The difference between a full HD panel and an HD ready is obvioulsy more noticeable on the larger panels, but even the smaller 1080p panels are better. Why? Double the number of pixels that's why. An HD ready panel has approx 1,000,000 pixels, a full HD has 2,000,000. An HD ready panel can do 1080i (interlaced) but it's still only working with 1m pixels.

Don't buy expensive HDMI cables, but don't buy crap ones either, mostly due to the connectors falling apart.

What size TV are you looking for? What sort of enviroment is it going into, ie well light or dark? What do you mostly watch on TV? Is a built-in digital tuner important to you? How far back are you sitting from your TV?

Answer me the above questions and I can help you make the right decision. After all, you don't replace your TV (well most people don't) every year or even within 3yrs, so don't make the mistake of buying the 'cheapest' set on the market. Inform yourself and buy right.

[Hoon]

I bought a Sony Bravia 40" W4000 last year just to watch the Olympics in HD. Now I'm hooked on HD and have become a bit of a Home Theatre buff. This addiction has seen my 32"CRT/Tivo/Xbox combo being replaced by 40"LCDTV/MySkyHD/Win7MediaPC/OnkyoAV+Wharfedales" with XBox360 or PS3 still to come.

After you've tasted the good stuff it's hard to go ghetto again and now watching anything in SD(standard definition) feels dirty and needs to be fixed.

One thing I have noticed is that people that buy quality LCD TVs also develop the same tastes whereas those that buy cheap do not. I guess they are still content with what they are getting because they aren't getting much better than what they started with so haven't developed a finer taste.

Also make sure you use the best connection method your devices support. It pains me to visit people and see them running their Sky into LCD using composite cables when there are s-video connectors just begging for a cable.
Cables from best to worse (simplified): HDMI, COMPONENT, S-VIDEO, COMPOSITE, RF (old school TV aerial cable).

[wysper]

http://www.dse.co.nz/dse.shop/4a5474d0002d43cc273fc0a87f3b06bd/Product/View/GE6497

Any informed opinions on on what they're like????

Ask what the warranty is. Especially regarding dead pixels. Some have a minimum number of dead pixels before they will replace the screen. Some have to be in certain parts of the screen before they will replace it.

Be aware DVD only does 480 not 1080, you need blue ray for HD. Some dvd players upconvert to 720 but that can be pretty hit and miss. (at least I think this is right). So figure out for yourself how important the FULL HD thing is for you. And if you are going HDMI make sure all your gear does what you want it to. Some stuff passes video but not audio via hdmi, hdmi can be a real PIA.

I would go with what onearmedbandit said, answer his questions and you will get a good recommendation. I have a panasonic lcd, great on my PS3 and DVD player. Bit shit on TV cos the tv signal is shit. I don't have sky or digital tv.

[MattRSK]

Ohh, another grumpy 768 line owner. Forget it man, trailing edge already.

Dave

Exactly

How long have you owned your last tv for? You might as well get a decent one, how long before all tv is HD format?

[Manxman]

I work in the industry, go with a recognised brand like Sony, Samsung or Panasonic. The difference between a full HD panel and an HD ready is obvioulsy more noticeable on the larger panels, but even the smaller 1080p panels are better. Why? Double the number of pixels that's why. An HD ready panel has approx 1,000,000 pixels, a full HD has 2,000,000. An HD ready panel can do 1080i (interlaced) but it's still only working with 1m pixels.

Don't buy expensive HDMI cables, but don't buy crap ones either, mostly due to the connectors falling apart.

What size TV are you looking for? What sort of enviroment is it going into, ie well light or dark? What do you mostly watch on TV? Is a built-in digital tuner important to you? How far back are you sitting from your TV?

Answer me the above questions and I can help you make the right decision. After all, you don't replace your TV (well most people don't) every year or even within 3yrs, so don't make the mistake of buying the 'cheapest' set on the market. Inform yourself and buy right.

Size: the best that $2000 will buy. No less than 32" tho'
Pixels: I saw a 1080p vs a 768 TV yesterday, and you're right the difference is actually noticeable - more than I thought, therefore I'm thinking 1080 will future proof it to some degree (although I understand the industry is moving really quick)
Used for: Mostly XBox, but some TV (Freeview) and DVD watching
Environment: small lounge (approx 4m x 4m), has darkish curtains (so we can work on the playstation tan).
Built-in Freeview is preferrable, as the other Freeview box we have could go upstairs into the bedroom TV, but not mission critical.
Distance: 2.5m - 3m away.

What about LG?
What about contrast ratio?
Do refresh rates come into the equation, eg 50 vs 100?
What about Plasma (although I'm pretty sure that LCD is the way to go right now).

What is a reasonable price to pay for an HDMI cable that does its job, ie functional?

Gee, what a complex area. Thanks for the opinions BTW.

Cheers.

[Big Dave]

I have a $150 CRT. Works great.

[Manxman]

Luddite.

:niceone:

[onearmedbandit]

Size: the best that $2000 will buy. No less than 32" tho'

From the new crop of TV's you could go for either the Sony KDL32W5500, full HD, built-in freeview, 4xHDMI, DLNA enabled (network ready) and 100Hz. Retail is $2300 but you'll own it for under $2k. The other option is Samsungs LA32B650. Almost identical specs to the Sony model, including price. The most notable difference is the appearance of the panels. Samsungs 6 series and above use a very reflective panel, which can mean a lot of glare issues if you have a well lit environment. Sonys panels have more of a matt finish.

You may be able to pick up some of last years models at a sharp deal. Any Sony W4500 series in 40" or above is a decent TV, 100Hz, full HD and built-in freeview. Unlike the 5500 series the USB port will only playback jpegs and mp3's, not movie files. Sony's V4000 series is worth considering as well, same basic specs as the W4500 but no 100Hz and smaller colour range.

As far as last years models from Samsung, any 5 series or above is Full HD, if it has a 'D' at the end of the model, ie LA37A550D, it has built-in freeview. 6 series has 100Hz but reflective screen. Supposedly Samsungs pixel refresh rate is amongst the fastest, the 5 series at 5.5ms and the 6 series at 4.5, where as I've heard, but may be mistaken, that Sonys is around 8ms. Both companys produce good TV's for their price and beyond.

I wouldn't recommend Plasma for your use, as they still suffer from burn-in and games consoles are the most common cause of this issue. Some of the better models, ie Panasonic and Samsung, have modes where they remove the burn-in but it's still a hassle.


Pixels: I saw a 1080p vs a 768 TV yesterday, and you're right the difference is actually noticeable - more than I thought, therefore I'm thinking 1080 will future proof it to some degree (although I understand the industry is moving really quick)

If you can afford it go 1080p. DVD is a dying format, full HD is becoming the norm. Blu-Ray movies are everywhere now, HD recorders are now on the market, Blu-Ray recorders will be here soon.


Used for: Mostly XBox, but some TV (Freeview) and DVD watching
Environment: small lounge (approx 4m x 4m), has darkish curtains (so we can work on the playstation tan).
Built-in Freeview is preferrable, as the other Freeview box we have could go upstairs into the bedroom TV, but not mission critical.
Distance: 2.5m - 3m away.

What about LG?
What about contrast ratio?
Do refresh rates come into the equation, eg 50 vs 100?
What about Plasma (although I'm pretty sure that LCD is the way to go right now).

What is a reasonable price to pay for an HDMI cable that does its job, ie functional?

Gee, what a complex area. Thanks for the opinions BTW.

Cheers.

If you're using it for gaming, I suggest going to an LCD, ideally 100Hz. Not so much for gaming (although it will improve quality of fast moving images) but for general viewing. On a 50Hz set the moving picture is made up of 50 static images a second, which can cause a loss of image quality with fast-paced action. It can also cause image jumping, where a moving image may noticeable judder across the screen. 100Hz TV's obviously play 100 images, each slightly manipulated from the previous, giving a smoother more realistic image.

Built-in freeview is now installed on most new panels.

As far as distance is concerned, there is a rough guide that for every metre you are away from your TV allow for 10-12" of viewing area. It is just a rough guide, we are all different. However using that guide would suggest a set between 32" to 40". But that's entirely up to you.

LG are a decent quality brand, but IMO not quite at the level of the the others I have mentioned. However expect to see an improvement in the range this year.

Contrast ratio is a minefield, it depends on so many variables that you can't really compare two different brands together. Use it as a guide but let your eyes decide. Dynamic contrast ratio is different to standard CR, and gives a higher value. If a TV has a CR of 15,000:1 it has roughly 15,000 steps between the darkest black and the brightest white. Dynamic CR is measured using moving images and as I stated results in a higher ratio. Samsungs 6 series from last year had a 60,000:1 DCR in the 680 series. Their new LED backlight model now has a DCR of 3,000:,000:1. It is noticeable, but it is new(ish) technology.

As far as a reasonable price for an HDMI cable, everyone has their opinion on that. Don't pay the retail price, and shop around.

Ah fun on Friday night with the flu.

[Blackshear]

If you're gonna buy a good t.v, don't forget a good t.v... AND THE OBLIGATORY ANJOU PEAR CABLES

http://www.pearcable.com/sub_products_anjou_sc.htm

[Manxman]

..........

[Manxman]

From the new crop of TV's you could go for either the Sony KDL32W5500, full HD, built-in freeview, 4xHDMI, DLNA enabled (network ready) and 100Hz. Retail is $2300 but you'll own it for under $2k. The other option is Samsungs LA32B650. Almost identical specs to the Sony model, including price. The most notable difference is the appearance of the panels. Samsungs 6 series and above use a very reflective panel, which can mean a lot of glare issues if you have a well lit environment. Sonys panels have more of a matt finish.

Ah fun on Friday night with the flu.

You mean this one: http://www.bondandbond.co.nz/audiotv/tv/lcd-tvs/sony-kdl32v5500-32-full-hd-bravia-lcd-television/prod11293.html ?

$1799 sounds like a goer.

Point noted about plasma.

Get better soon.

Cheers.

[Paul in NZ]

Hopefully they didn't blow the entire product development budget on deciding on the name for the product.... Konker... Good lord, a marketing genius at work there..

[Big Dave]

Hopefully they didn't blow the entire product development budget on deciding on the name for the product.... Konker... Good lord, a marketing genius at work there..

Innit. 'I have a large Panis...onic' is the only thing close.

[onearmedbandit]

You mean this one: http://www.bondandbond.co.nz/audiotv/tv/lcd-tvs/sony-kdl32v5500-32-full-hd-bravia-lcd-television/prod11293.html ?

$1799 sounds like a goer.

Point noted about plasma.

Get better soon.

Cheers.

The link you have provided is for the 'V' series, which doesn't have 100Hz. You'll do better than $1799.99 for a deal on the 32V, I know that you can get it for around $1440 (20% off).

[Manxman]

The link you have provided is for the 'V' series, which doesn't have 100Hz. You'll do better than $1799.99 for a deal on the 32V, I know that you can get it for around $1440 (20% off).

Good point grasshopper.

The other thing I found out today, is that I cannot hook up any Freeview that comes built-in to any of these TVs to my existing (previously used for Sky) sat dish (which is hooked up to my standalone Freeview box and other TV).

This gets more complicated each time I look at it, but - again - your input is invaluable, cheers.

[vindy500]

Good point grasshopper.

The other thing I found out today, is that I cannot hook up any Freeview that comes built-in to any of these TVs to my existing (previously used for Sky) sat dish (which is hooked up to my standalone Freeview box and other TV).


thats because there freeview HD which needs a uhf aerial

[Paul in NZ]

Innit. 'I have a large Panis...onic' is the only thing close.

Mind you - they did chnge their name from 'national' so even konker is an improvement on that...

[Manxman]

thats because there freeview HD which needs a uhf aerial

S'right. That's what I was told by a very switched on dude at Harvey Norman.

[Manxman]

If you're gonna buy a good t.v, don't forget a good t.v... AND THE OBLIGATORY ANJOU PEAR CABLES

http://www.pearcable.com/sub_products_anjou_sc.htm

Frikken heck [chokes into coffee].

Cables that cost more than a TV itself must also be able to:
a)wake me up in the morning,
b) brush my teeth,
c) look like Elle McPherson,
d) wash the dishes, and
e) take my dog for a walk, whenever it wants

...before I'd buy it.

[onearmedbandit]

Good point grasshopper.

The other thing I found out today, is that I cannot hook up any Freeview that comes built-in to any of these TVs to my existing (previously used for Sky) sat dish (which is hooked up to my standalone Freeview box and other TV).

This gets more complicated each time I look at it, but - again - your input is invaluable, cheers.

Yes, currently Freeview is only available in HD with an UHF aerial. If you get Prime without sky then you should be able to receive Freeview. Definitely do it as you'll appreciate the HD programming.