[RC211]

I ordered a Sony w4500 from BT shop online, got a cheap price but waited over 2months for delivery, when they tried to deliver they wouldnt deliver on a weekend or evening (they use UPS), so ended up taking day off work, then on that day they didnt turn up, next day I call I'm told the TV is damaged in transit and being returned, so if I want the TV i have to wait again.. anyone else have any problems with bt shop online?

So I have written a complaint but in the mean time I went to Richer sounds, the salesperson in there really tried to convince me of not getting a sony. He said i would be better off getting a samsung as Samsungs make the Sony TVs and they would be much cheaper. Is there any truth in this? Thanks

[John_Gateshead]

Although Samsung make the panels for Sony TVs, my feeling is that Sony's quality control is better than Samsung's. Maybe Sony has someone at the Samsung factory who vets the panels that come to them...

My statement admittedly is not based on a scientific study, but on the fact that I had a Samsung printer that died with a faulty paper feed when it was exactly a year old, and on seeing a neighbour's obviously faulty Samsung TV that was only a week old. I read on the web of many people having the same problem with Samsung printers, and a poor response from Samsung on what seemed to be a design fault. I had also bought a Samsung camera that was meant to double as a video player but refused to play any video format except Samsung's own: the supplied conversion software didn't work. The Samsung web site (that was supposed to offer support) was appalling. I personally would not buy anything more from Samsung.

I've had many Sony products and, admittedly, one Sony TV had persistent problems with its on-off switch. I've had several of their other products that have been fine, including a 32V2000 LCD TV and a CRT portable TV that's now 16 years old and still works.

[Nielo TM]

Originally Posted by RC211

ISamsungs make the Sony TVs and they would be much cheaper. Is there any truth in this? Thanks

Samsun, CMO, AUO, Sharp and CPT supply panels to Sony, but Sony design everything else. The same applies to Samsung as they use panels from AUO, CMO, LGD etc...


In any case, panel is second to the video processor and other components of the TV. So for example, you can have the best panel in the world, but if you use poorly coded firmware, poor hardware and poor image processor, the image will look ****.


Sony LCDs with BRAVIA engine are amazing to say the least. So stick with your original decision and order from Amazon next time.

[ChrisGgr]

nielo is absolutely correct.also sony and samsung have a joint venture called S-LCD in the creation of the panels

[Nielo TM]

just to add to my post, an LCD panel is not the same as an LCD HDTV.

[WhiteKiteFauna]

although you need to know that the LCD panel is >60-70% of the cost of the TV.
And the opposite is true too: if the panel is crap, you can put the bestest processor in the world and it will still look crap.
If Samsung sells panels to Sony, i really doubt that they give out the best panels, and leave worse ones for own TVs
That said, i compared w4500 and 40A856, and the SD image is indeed better on Sony, but the panel is better on Samsung

[Nielo TM]

Originally Posted by WhiteKiteFauna

although you need to know that the LCD panel is >60-70% of the cost of the TV.
And the opposite is true too: if the panel is crap, you can put the bestest processor in the world and it will still look crap.
If Samsung sells panels to Sony, i really doubt that they give out the best panels, and leave worse ones for own TVs
That said, i compared w4500 and 40A856, and the SD image is indeed better on Sony, but the panel is better on Samsung

ATM, there are no such thing as crap panels (unless you enter the lower end market with TN panels). But there some LGD panels that are quite average; thankfully Sony don't use them.


So it's all down to the video processor

[Nielo TM]

Originally Posted by WhiteKiteFauna

If Samsung sells panels to Sony, i really doubt that they give out the best panels, and leave worse ones for own TVs

That doesn't make any sense

[RewIre]

Alot of owners here have reported the W4500 suffers badly from clouding and its just luck if the one you get is ok or bad. Doesnt say much for QC.

[Nielo TM]

S-PVA panels are known for clouding, like Shap panels are known for banding.


But I don't think Sony can force Samsung to improve their QC

[ChrisGgr]

Originally Posted by RewIre

Alot of owners here have reported the W4500 suffers badly from clouding and its just luck if the one you get is ok or bad. Doesnt say much for QC.

this story has been ended a while ago.the actual problematic cases were actually 4-5,then the issue exaggerated,the cases are no different than W4000 or A656 etc...

[whitehart]

I've always bought Sony's in the past, but this generation of LCD's the Samsung looks a lot better in design and in performance IMO, this is why for the first time I have bought a Samsung LCD to which I'm well happy with it. I think I made the correct choice. I will buy what I consider to be the best at the time.

[Mickjaz]

Originally Posted by RC211

I ordered a Sony w4500 from BT shop online, got a cheap price but waited over 2months for delivery

You have more patience than a saint

Panasonic DMCTZ5

[Nielo TM]

ditto

If I order something, I want it within a week (max)

[WhiteKiteFauna]

Originally Posted by Nielo TM

But I don't think Sony can force Samsung to improve their QC

that does not make any sense
what company in the right mind would want their competitor to get better?
btw samsung has 25% of the market while Sony 12%
samsung 40A856 is much fancier than w4500, imho

[marty2005]

Sony have gone downhill in the looks department, I don't like the space invader look of the 2008 models - what were they thinking? They used to look nice. I think They'd look horrible on the wall.

Where as Samsung seem to be getting better looking every year.

I've had the Samsung SH855M dvd recorder and that was a pile of poo. Returned that back to BT after a months usage. It had so many bugs that I documented on here it was just unbelievable how they got out of the factory door.

I've had a Samsung combination microwave/convection/grill oven for 17 years and it's used nearly every day. In fact I don't even own an oven. I can cook a Fray Bentos Steak and Kidney pie in 11minutes. (I always throw away the kidneys)