What HiFi Reviewers please enlighten me!

[admin_exported]

HI,

EDITED BY MODS for house rules

Now, I came over here to get a bit more of a balanced view on some of the TVs and to see what all of the fuss was about because people often comment on how we shouldn't really take what hifi reviews seriously and, to be honest, I do find them a little 'inconsistent'. As an example of this in the most basic form you give the 32LH7000 5 stars, but you give the 42" version 3 stars, saying that the 42" version is 'good enough' and the 32" version is 'a fine performer', as well as saying that the black levels seem to change between them, and the 32" version seems to have a sharp image, whereas the 42" version is too soft...even the design is described as good in the 32" model, but not the 42" one.

So I ask, how do you test these TVs? Do you calibrate them, if so are the reviews aimed at the pre calibrated or post calibrated results? Do you control the lighting? Do you have a reference set to compare to? If you could explain the testing procedure then I would be most grateful

cheers

 

[coolaboola]

I speak purely for myself in reply to this but whathifi in my opinion judge a given product on its individual merits in its price catagory as opposed to its stable.Stars are afforded on bang for buck largely.Ratings of a sibling product can't rub off on or be of influence in a catagory above or below it.

 

[Andrew Everard]

Jtro:So I ask, how do you test these TVs? Do you calibrate them, if so are the reviews aimed at the pre calibrated or post calibrated results? Do you control the lighting? Do you have a reference set to compare to? If you could explain the testing procedure then I would be most grateful

There are many threads on here wherein Clare or I have explained our testing procedures. Yes, we calibrate, and the results are based on the performance of the TV when properly set up, although we will comment on how this compares with the out of the box settings when relevant.

Yes, all our rooms have controllable lighting, and yes, we keep a range of TVs we consider to be the current class leaders/past supertest or group test winners as references.

 

[matthewpiano]

...and the same model can vary considerably from one size to another so it is only correct for WHFS&V to deal with each individual size/model as a seperate entity.

 

[Anonymous]

Thank you,

I am aware that the quality of the TVs can vary slightly between sizes, I've witnessed it, but I've never seen them vary to the same extent as they seem to here, one being sharp, the other being soft for example.

Can I just offer a little bit of feedback as well? I notice you have mentioned the problem of backlight bleed and clouding on the Sonys, which is good of course, but this issue does vary a lot between sets, I've seen a mix of stupidly poor backlighting and as good as perfect backlighting on the Sony sets, it's just you give the impression that every Sony LCD suffers from the issue which isn't the case, still mention the issue of course though.

And if the star rating is based on value as well then maybe it should be expanded upon, for example if you give a star rating for value and another overall, this could avoid confusion as I take the star system to seperate the best from the worst. For example I would say that the Panasonic V10 plasma should get 4 or 5 stars for its performance (4.5 would be ideal because it isn't Pioneer Kuro level), but I don't think it's particularly great value for money, it's priced as you would expect, so I'd probably give it 3 for value, combining the two scores is an option but could be misleading in some cases.

 

[Andrew Everard]

Jtro:it's just you give the impression that every Sony LCD suffers from the issue which isn't the case, still mention the issue of course though.

Good to hear you say that - in the past some have said we didn't make enough of what they perceived as a range-wide problem. Fact it, we report it when we see it, and don't when we don't.

Jtro:And if the star rating is based on value as well then maybe it
should be expanded upon, for example if you give a star rating for
value and another overall, this could avoid confusion as I take the
star system to seperate the best from the worst. For example I would
say that the Panasonic V10 plasma should get 4 or 5 stars for its
performance (4.5 would be ideal because it isn't Pioneer Kuro level),
but I don't think it's particularly great value for money, it's priced
as you would expect, so I'd probably give it 3 for value, combining the
two scores is an option but could be misleading in some cases.

We've been round this track a good few times on the forum, and come back to the same point: our score is on performance per pound - always has been, always will be - and since most people on here seem as interested in price and relative performance as outright performance, it seems as good a system as any.

 

[professorhat]

Jtro:Can I just offer a little bit of feedback as well? I notice you have mentioned the problem of backlight bleed and clouding on the Sonys, which is good of course, but this issue does vary a lot between sets, I've seen a mix of stupidly poor backlighting and as good as perfect backlighting on the Sony sets, it's just you give the impression that every Sony LCD suffers from the issue which isn't the case, still mention the issue of course though.

Funny how things turn around isn't it!

For the OP, the exact opposite argument was levelled at WHF after they reviewed a Sony TV and gave it 5 stars because it didn't have backlight bleed whereas other forumites had received TVs which did have backlight bleed.

It seems they can't win! But basically, they can only comment on the TV they have in for review - anything else wouldn't be fair.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm not saying that they need to write something about backlight bleed to cover themselves in case someone gets it, because there will be people who get it with every LCD TV, but it's hinted that every Sony LCD could have the problem.

I don't want to rip the testing process to threads, I haven't read all the reviews and I don't intend to, but there are just a couple of things which I read which did make me wonder whether or not there was a proper testing process or not, but there is so I'm good

 

[Anonymous]

nearly all last years sony tvs had a whfi 5 stars , whfi award winner etc etc tag on them in the shops , great advertising anyone would agree , yet this year , sony sent whfi a few tvs which did have backlight bleed , what does that say about them ?? talk about shooting yourself in the foot ..incredible really .

 

[Andrew Everard]

Jtro:but it's hinted that every Sony LCD could have the problem.

With respect, I think that may be more inferral than implication.