Time to buy a Replacement TV

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Time to buy a Replacement TV

dryburn

430 posts

Ultimate Geek

#240221 27-Aug-2018 13:32

So our Panasonic TH-55DX605U has refused to start up after a year and luckily we had an extended warranty on it from Harvey Norman (I know I should be covered by CGA but ease of support is always better)

They have offered me a store credit since TV's have gone up since my last purchase and hey cannot offer a replacement.

My current selection:

Brand Model Price Panel Bluetooth headphones Headphone out HDR10 HZ

Sony $1,460

KD55X7500F

Panel: Direct LED

Bluetooth: no

Headphone: Yes

HDR10: Yes

HZ: 50

LG $1,559

55UK6700PVD

Panel: Edgelit

Bluetooth: Yes

Headphone: No

HDR10: Yes

HZ: 100

Panasonic $ 1,520

TH-55FX600Z

Panel: IPS Backlit

Bluetooth: no

Headphone: Yes

HDR10: Yes

HZ: 100

I'm leaning towards the Panasonic even though my last one bummed out on me. Also the smart functions are quite simple and not intrusive especially when using a Nvidia Sheild TV.

Any experience with these models or something specific to look out for?

Thanks

Hollow

35 posts

Geek

#2079825 27-Aug-2018 16:13

I've been looking at TV's in a similar price range and it's been hard to find any in depth reviews or anything that makes one stand out over the other. General consensus seems to be that they are all solid but will suffer when it comes to contrast and black levels and won't really be bright enough for effective HDR.

There are lots of reviews saying TCL's are the best in the lower $ range, but many of the reviews around seem to be of US models that have features the NZ models don't have. There are lots of great reviews around of the Sonys in the range above the X7500F which is pushing me towards a 55' X9000F or a 60' X8300F

Hopefully someone has some better information!

dryburn

430 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2079841 27-Aug-2018 16:33

That's the same issue I've had, couldn't find meaningful reviews of these models to help make the decision.

Thus far the Sony has had mixed reviews and kinda putting me off getting one even though that suite my budget.

https://www.productreview.com.au/p/sony-x8500d-series.html?rating=1#reviews

https://www.productreview.com.au/p/sony-x7000d-series.html

Also kinda holding thumbs if I decide to go for a Panasonic since a GZ member reported uneven brightness on the EX600 models

Would love an OLED but this price point is just way beyond budget.

MikeAqua

7773 posts

Uber Geek

#2079847 27-Aug-2018 16:41

I'm amazed that the 'extended' warranty doesn't get you an automatic replacement ... not very extensive

Under the CGA you might have a case for a full refund as the TV has a major defect.

Mike

sen8or

1787 posts

Uber Geek

#2079852 27-Aug-2018 16:45

How is "TVs have gone up" your problem?

You purchased the goods and their extended warranty. There has to be a "like replacement" within their TV lineup. The fact that the like replacement may now retail for more than when it was retailed a year ago is not your risk to assume. I'd push for a replacement rather than credit (if a $5k TV was now only selling for $2k, do you think they'd offer you $5k store credit?)

dryburn

430 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2079861 27-Aug-2018 17:12

I would of put up a fuss but the terms are as follows:

https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/hnnz-assets/documents/product-care-may-2014-web.pdf

REPLACEMENT TERMS

Under Your Harvey Norman Product Care if Your Product suffers an Eligible Fault, then We will replace it with a new product, or a like for like product that is the nearest equivalent to Your Product once only during the Term. When We replace Your Product under Your Harvey Norman Product Care, We will take into account features, quality and specifications of the original item as well as availability of the technology. The choice of replacement product is always at Our discretion and Our decision is final.

Where the failure of Your Product is isolated to an eligible component of Your Product, We may choose to replace that eligible component rather than replace the whole of Your Product. This choice is always at Our discretion and Our decision is final.

The value of the replacement product shall not exceed the Original Purchase Price You paid for Your Product. Due Terms and Conditions of Your purchase of Your Product with Product Care to changes in product technology and availability, the replacement product We supply under Your Harvey Norman Product Care may have a lower selling price and may not be the original manufacturer or brand of Your Product.

Replacement price differences, if any, will not be refunded. Under Your Harvey Norman Product Care, if We cannot offer You a suitable replacement, We may give You a store credit or cash settlement. The value of any store credit or cash settlement that We give You under Your Harvey Norman Product Care will not exceed the Original Purchase Price of Your Product.

The decision to replace, offer a store credit or cash settlement under Your Harvey Norman Product Care is always at Our sole discretion and Our decision is final. Our obligations under Your Harvey Norman Product Care are limited to Your Product and do not extend to any replacement product which we provide you with. For avoidance of doubt if: 1. Your Product suffers an Eligible Fault and is replaced under Your Harvey Norman Product Care; or 2. Your Product is replaced under Your rights under law; or 3. Your Product suffers an Eligible Fault, a suitable replacement cannot not found and You accept a store credit or a cash settlement under Your Harvey Norman Product Care, then: (a) Your acceptance of any such settlement set out above shall constitute fulfilment and discharge of Our obligations under Your Harvey Norman Product Care; (b) We will owe no further obligations to You under Your Harvey Norman Product Care; and (c) Your Product will become Our property thereafter.

Dingbatt

6755 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2079898 27-Aug-2018 18:01

Why would you accept a store credit rather than a refund?
That gives you the option to go elsewhere if you wish. The T&Cs tend to indicate your product care doesn't transfer to the new set either so you are not tied to Harvey Norman if you have cash. With a store credit they have you by the S&Cs and reduce your ability to negotiate. Even under the CGA the retailer has the right to replace, repair or refund, at their discretion. If it was me I would be asking for a refund rather than a store credit.

However, to get back to what you were actually asking, I have been looking at the smaller sizes of the sets you referenced. IPS screens seem to have better viewing angles. Personally, I am leaning towards the Panasonic or Sony for my situation. Sony has Android as the OS but the Panasonic has a cleaner (Firefox based) OS. However the Panasonic has very few apps available whereas the Sony has the Google Play Store.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

Tinkerisk

4226 posts

Uber Geek

#2079900 27-Aug-2018 18:06

DVB>IP client (maybe DVB>IP server as well)

Twin concept (to view and record different channels at same time)

- NET: FTTH, OPNsense, 10G backbone, GWN APs, ipPBX
- SRV: 12 RU HA server cluster, 0.1 PB storage on premise
- IoT: thread, zigbee, tasmota, BidCoS, LoRa, WX suite, IR
- 3D: two 3D printers, 3D scanner, CNC router, laser cutter

Equinox IT

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keepitwarm

265 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2079902 27-Aug-2018 18:09

Have a look at rtings.com, they have always had very good and bad points explained, they might not have the exact models your are looking at but should have something close enough to give you a good idea of some technical pros and cons

.............................................................

simple logic.

dryburn

430 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2079915 27-Aug-2018 18:43

rtings.com don't have any panasonic models and judging from the SONY review they have a slow OS and bad contrast ratio's. Now it's either Panasonic or LG.

LG has an amazingly quick start up from standby.

Panasonic OS would be quick but has a non-intrusive OS

Hollow

35 posts

Geek

#2079939 27-Aug-2018 19:47

Rtings won't have any Panasonic reviews beacuse Panasonic pulled out of the US market a couple of years ago.

The one thing I do like about the Sony 55 is that it is direct lit where the other two (and the Sony model it replaced) are edgelit which from my experience tend to look pretty awful in dark scenes. That is also likely to improve the contrast on the Sony verses previous models. The LG does have local dimming but I imagine that's going to be far less effective on an edge lit model.

dryburn

430 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2080252 28-Aug-2018 12:46

I went this morning to purchase the Panasonic but haven't picked it up yet. I have since come across this site that has all the info regarding contrast, bit, etc. but again some model numbers differ.

Panasonic: Here

LG: Here

It just made things a little harder...

Tinkerisk

4226 posts

Uber Geek

#2082630 2-Sep-2018 04:38

Got an TX-55FXW724 series TV set today with an IFA '18 Berlin discount.

Don't know to what series it is equivalent to in other countries, but clearly Panasonic is technically ahead to other manufacturers in that price range.

(The linked table above is incorrect since the FXW724 series has twin concept and DVB>IP server & client built in.)

JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#2082921 2-Sep-2018 22:34

dryburn:

I would of put up a fuss but the terms are as follows [....]

That's simply tough - for HN not for you.

It doesn't matter what their terms are. legally they can't contract out of the CGA. Your rights under that trump whatever "terms" they may try to say you have agreed to.

So I advise you to go right ahead and press for them to solve the problem. As the law requires them to do.