Help!! 46 inch LCD.Samsung LE46A856 or Sony KDL46W4500?!!

[Davo2008]

Hi! After all the help you guys gave me on the Blu Ray player, I thought it would be perfect to ask for your advice on the TV to go with it. I've narrowed it down to 2. The Samsung LE46A856 and the Sony KDL46W4500. I've read some disturbing things about both (particularly the Sony) but I've also read posts from people that say both reign supreme. Both have WHF 5 star ratings. Hopefully no-one will chuck too many more options in the mix as I'm fairly decided on one of those two. Something to keep in mind is that probably 80% of the time will be spent watching SD TV, so the SD side of it would have to be one of the main considerations. Can anyone help me out.....again?!

 

[Davo2008]

Just been reading that the Sony seems to have quite a few serious problems! Is this a faulty batch thing? I think the Samsung....?

 

[Anonymous]

I was making the same choice just before Xmas and went with the Sony 46w45000.

I have no complaints at all. Picture excellant and sound is much better than I had anticipated.

If I had to criticse anything the viewing angle isn't fantastic but I think it is on a par with other LCDs

 

[Anonymous]

Have had a Samsung 46" for 18 mths now, everything is upscaled to full HD off my 875 and connected to the mains through a Powerkord classic/Tacima block.

The picture is perfect, really perfect. The sound through the TV speakers is much better now as well, but rarely use them.

 

[Davo2008]

Thanks! Did you ever see them side by side? Have you experienced this "clouding" issue? Or the backlight bleeding? And are you saying the quality of SD TV is good too? I wonder if there's anyone out there who owns the Samsung that can offer an opinion? Thanks again!

 

[Davo2008]

I didn't realise it had been out that long! Is it the same model or a different one?

 

[Anonymous]

No its the previous model, the Samsung LE46M86. Compared it to the Sony's at the time and it was just as good as the X series! It was excellent on SD TV as well.
But a £1000 cheaper.

 

[Davo2008]

Perfect. I was edging towards the Samsung anyway. Do you think that Sony add a premium on just because it's Sony? I'm fairly convinced that the pictures will be very similar, but due to the fact that they're nearly identical prices, the Samsung will have a slightly better spec due to the "Sony Premium" factor.....

 

[Anonymous]

Honestly at the time before I went out and compared for myself, I was ready to buy an X series!

But I was in sevenoaks auditioning AV systems, seeing them using Samsung TV's and they said they thought they were just as good.

My eyes couldn't disagree with them either!

 

[Davo2008]

...and last question.... I get corporate discount off Sharp products. I've currently got the LC42XD1E which WHV has given 3 stars, but which I think is excellent. I was initially considering the model up, the LC46X2LE, wehich WHV has ALSO given 3 stars. I'm assuming that the Samsung and the Sony would both be better than the new Sharp..... even though I completely disagreed with their 3 star rating...?

 

[Anonymous]

I haven't seen the sharp but can't comment.

There are some good deals around on the Sony at the moment which might aleiviate your concerns about paying a premium.

I think they are both good products but in the end I was swayed (rightly or wrongly) by the WHFI award going to the Sony.

I haven't expeienced any clouding. On a high brightness and a blank screen you can notice some uneveness.

I found the LCD backlight on the Samsung gave slighty better black when a large area of the screen was meant to be black but when something like credits were on the screen this gave a "halo" effect to the white lettering because the LCD backlight obviously can't match the resloution of the screen.

I had also read about some lag issues previous samsungs which may have had a minor effect on gaming but I couldn't find out if the LE46A856 suffered from it.