Are there potential pitfalls of importing a USA LED TV to NZ?

Forums › Home Theatre (incl HTPC) › Are there potential pitfalls of importing a USA LED TV to NZ?

mike999302

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#90333 20-Sep-2011 01:39

Hi guys, this is my first post in these forums and I am hoping somone much wiser than me can help me out.

I have everything in place to ship a mammoth 70inch LED tv to New Zealand. I am aware that i will need a 100watt stepdown converter for the power supply. It runs at 96w so i guess 100w is ok.

http://www.sharpusa.com/ForHome/HomeEntertainment/LCDTVs/LC70LE732U.aspx

My use for the tv is simply as a large monitor for my pc, ps3 and to watch sky. From the sounds of it the ps3 should be ok running at 720p and i assume the pc can be tweaked to get a res that matches provided my video card is flexible. But please correct me i am wrong.

Is anyone aware of any other issues, ie Sky output signal from my Sky HD box or any other reason i shouldn't import this thing and have the BIGGEST TV in my social circle.

I realise after writing this might be better suited to the sky thread so i apologise if i have posted incorrectly.

trig42

Banana?
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#523334 20-Sep-2011 06:24

How much is the freight on that - 50kg?

Have you got a decent step-down transformer? Needs to output at 60Hz (our power is 50Hz).
I also note it can't do PAL, but that won't be a major as your are not tuning it to anything.

cyril7

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#523343 20-Sep-2011 07:10

Hi, trig42, appliances like TVs convert any input power directly to DC so they are not too concerned about the frequency, regardless a transformer will not change the input frequency.

I think I would want to establish that it can do 50Hz based HD signals (ie 1080i/50) as will be output by the Sky box, many of these sets for the US market only process on 60Hz based timing, also their frame adaption units (120Hz bit) dont extend to 100Hz or other methods needed by 50Hz systems.

Personally I would not bother it could end up more trouble than its worth, but ymmv

Cyril

wreck90

780 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#523346 20-Sep-2011 07:36

The TV will be NTSC friendly --- can you plug in pal sources? Maybe it supports both , check the manual.

When you import, you'll be hit by 15% GST on top of cost+shipping, and, those new customs charges which came into affect last year of about $60 I think.

And, the lack of warranty is the biggest risk but you probably know all this.

Sweet unit!! Why don't they sell it here?

bfginger

1125 posts

Uber Geek

#523352 20-Sep-2011 07:50

A quick Google shows someone saying their LC-70LE732U doesn't support 1080i50. HD broadcasts in NZ are in 1080i50.

It is rated for 237 watts.

Don't customs have a problem with electronics without a NZ plug? You would have to pay GST on it too.

richms

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#523364 20-Sep-2011 08:35

bfginger: A quick Google shows someone saying their LC-70LE732U doesn't support 1080i50. HD broadcasts in NZ are in 1080i50.

It is rated for 237 watts.

Don't customs have a problem with electronics without a NZ plug? You would have to pay GST on it too.

No, customs dont have a problem with things without a NZ plug as that is the MED's current whinefest for people selling them commercially, which is where they are breaking a piece of protectionist law.

The lack of 50Hz modes is the biggest problem with anything from the US. From a friends endeavors over there to get a TV that would do 50Hz the bottom of the barral brands were the only ones to do it, thats the kmart house brands etc.

Richard rich.ms

Dunnersfella

3827 posts

Uber Geek

#523446 20-Sep-2011 11:24

Have you rung the Sharp suppliers in NZ to see if they're looking to bring the TV in?
The 100% group and Harvey Norman do them eh?
It's a big TV to import... and the price would have to be very low for me to even consider it.

mike999302

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#523833 21-Sep-2011 02:31

Thanks alot guys for the input. I am not to bothered about the GST and cost side of things as i have a friend doing me a good deal on the freight forwarding. Guessing this is a no go if it cannot display the Sky Signal.

Many thanks for the help on this guys. I will wait and see when this comes to NZ but even with the freight/gst/hassle it will be far more expensive here.

Is there any reliable signal changers or do those adapter things (convertors) all mess with the picture.

mike999302

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#523884 21-Sep-2011 09:18

@bfginger - i cant find anything that says it doesnt support 1080i 50hz. i can see a guy in singapore saying his is working perfectly on a 50hz signal.

and another post from someone else saying something similar

i emailed sharp in the states and they said no its not listed as supporting that but i think they just dont want people exporting it as its about half the price of waht you would pay in NZ or the United Kingdom