Dynex 1080p 42" LCD - When is cheap TOO cheap?

[ScooterMcTavish]

So here is my dilemma:

I am currently using a 46" 720p DLP bought at FS 3 years ago. The set is a Viore (an Akai knock-off, yes, yes, I know). All in all, I had done the THX adjustments, tweaked a bit for the Wii and the PS2, and have been pretty happy. In fact, my cheapie set (adjusted) looks better than some of my friend's unadjusted brand name 720p sets.

However, after acquiring a PS3 at Christmastime, I am now less satisfied with my set. My challenges are:
- The Viore has only 1 DVI port
- The DVI port only works with "lockable" devices where I can "hard force" the resolution to 720p (such as my *choice 505 and my Toshiba upscaler), and not the PS3
- It also has only one component input for HD, the other is SD only
- I am worried about copy protection coming on the Blu-Ray discs; I had heard it will be implemented in 2010 or 2012. Not inspiring either way if I'm forced to watch BD at a downconverted 480p.

So I'm looking for an LCD with at least two HDMI inputs, and I'd prefer 1080p, even if all the experts tell me I won't see the difference from 720p at 9' on a 42". I tried it at FS the other day, and bull paddies, I can see a difference.

However, the WAF is now through the roof if I need to justify buying a new TV based on buying a PS3! So cost becomes my #1 priority. Hence the question, how cheap is too cheap?

Looking at the BD sales, the sweet price points seemed to be for sets 37" and under; anything 40" and up was a bit more pricey unless it was 720p. Even some sets that you thought would have been good (i.e the Sony KDL40S4100) looked bad in the store, even hooked up with HDMI (maybe the pokey 8ms response time has something to do with this).

So based on all this, and looking at more sets than I'd like to (including a beautiful Regza set hooked up to a $30 DVD player by composite at Sears), I'm starting to wonder if anything is good. Therefore, why not save money?

So far the low cost leader is this beauty 42" 1080p Dynex at BB:

So, short question, am I a moron for even considering this?

Longer question, anyone use a Dynex LCD, and how'd it do for you?

BTW, Dynex is like Insignia, a BB house brand.

BTW #2, I did check out its 40" sibling at FS the other day, and the set looked like it had potential, but the source material (a BD through HDMI) was a fairly grainy video. Funny enough, the best set up set in the store appeared to be a 40" 1080p Insignia (who sets this stuff up anyways?).

[gnunn]

I have no experience with this set, but I would suggest you listen to the experts and get a 720p set instead of 1080p as you will get more bang for buck. Generally things like contrast ratio and color gamut will have a bigger effect on the quality of image then resolution when talking about a 42" set.

[TKG26]

My ps3 visably looked better going from my maxent 42" 720p to my vizio 42" 1080p. PS3 games that come in 1080p look better too. I think to get the most out of 1080p games and blurays the 1080p is the way to go,. And for the 42" size there are tonnes of sub 1000$ tvs to get

I went with the no name brands(el cheapo) and aside from my slight disappointment with the maxent(no issue untill i go the ps3) the vizio has been a real treat. You may want to consider it as well. Wallymart has them for 800ish

[ScooterMcTavish]

Thanks so far guys - two completely different opinions! Funny how buying a PS3 can make you unhappy.

Just for comparison's sake, I compared a few different 720p sets against the Dynex. Stats provided were:

Dynex: Brightness 400cd/m2, True Contrast 2000:1, Color Gamut 70%, RT 6.5ms
LG (42LG30), +$180BB: Brightness 500cd/m2, True Contrast not given, Color Gamut not given, RT 6.5ms
Samsung (LN40A450), +$250FS: Brightness not given, True Contrast not given, Color Gamut not given, RT 6ms
Sony (KDL40M4000), +$230FS: Brightness 450cd/m2, True Contrast 2500:1, Color Gamut not given, RT 8ms

As can be seen, it's not like the manufacturers make this easy - worst part is they all cost substantially more than the Dynex, and the Dynex is the only one with full meaningful stats. One stat that was easy to find was the Dynamic Contrast Ratio, but I hear this is also bull paddies. I've always preferred the eyeball test to specs anyways.

Possibly a 720p plasma may be better, but I've never been fond of them. To me, I always see the "screen door" on the 720p Plasmas - this is what drove me originally to DLP and not LCD projection.

Let's see what others have to say - maybe there is even a user of the set out there who can give feedback. Unfortunately, in one fourm where I found 19 pages dedicated to this set, too many users had the dreaded "this is my first HDTV which is replacing a 20 year old 19" Emerson set and it looks great" type posts. With nothing to compare it to, of course it looks good.

[Samwfive]

LMAO @

Let's see what others have to say - maybe there is even a user of the set out there who can give feedback. Unfortunately, in one fourm where I found 19 pages dedicated to this set, too many users had the dreaded "this is my first HDTV which is replacing a 20 year old 19" Emerson set and it looks great" type posts. With nothing to compare it to, of course it looks good.

Above is my suspicion too!

I bought a 37LG50, too chicken to go for Dynex/Insignia because I NEVER buy extended warranty. Touching wood(floor) I feel 3 days of intensive use is a good rule of thumb in ferreting out any problem. Just like the good old days of burn in with computers. Personally I NEVER judge tvs from store displays. Hey, try it for a wk or so, don't like it, whoosh it goes back?

[TKG26]

The thing is once you get it into your house and sit down in front of it is when you can decide if your happy or not. When i got my Maxent plasma 720p, i totally cheaped out, but also did not have an hd source or a ps3, it was not till i got the hd and ps3 that i realized this set was not and good and i felt it should have been.

I am really happy with the purchase, i do notice though that the LCD vizio viewing angle is not nearly as good as the maxent but who the hell sits on sharp angles from there tv anyway? LOL

im sure there are better or worse sets but untill someone sets up a few dozen of them in my house for me to try i really cannot complain. The price was right and the picture was very good.

Thanks to costco i dumped the maxent 5months or so later after i got all my hd sources in and realized things where just not up to par. I could only suggest that if you go cheap make sure you have hd sources at home to ensure you can fully test your new tv, and as samwfive sugests return the thing asap if your not happy within a few days.

Video and audio is so subjective, we all have differnet eyes and ears and tastes. What blows me away may just be dogs breakfast for a hard core AV enthusiast.

[ScooterMcTavish]

What blows me away may just be dogs breakfast for a hard core AV enthusiast.

Based on my starting this forum, I am obviously not a hard core AV enthusiast

Who sits at a wide angle for the TV? Easy, my wife! Think she gets my seat right in front of the TV in the sweet spot of the 5.1? Fat chance.

Regardless TKG, appreciate your opinion. I'm not looking for the best, but I have seen el cheapo sets set up better (and outperforming) sets that cost 2x as much. My Viore is proof of that!

You're sure right about the individual's perception; my buddy showed me his new 7.1 system, with an HK AVR254 and Paradigms all around (3se's, 2 sets of Titans, and a newer centre). I love HK, but his system made me want to run screaming from the house; like nails on a chalkboard.

I agree with the old home test as well (as I recommend in the speaker forums), but the closest BB is at least 1hr away. Therefore, if the set is a tragic POS, I'd rather just skip on it all together than have to go through the hassles.

Hopefully at some point we'll hear from someone who's owned a Dynex LCD (and not owned a Dynex power bar, or used Dynex CD-R sleeves). Really I just want to know if the PQ is manageable (or even good when adjusted w/Aviva or THX), and how the build quality seems.

[TECHNOKID]

Dynex is bassically parts from several first tier companies put together in one TV. This makes them somewhat inconsistant. Some of them work great, other models have problems. They are always a great price though. So give it a try and go by what you see, but I would reccomend the service plan as I see problems with power supply, buttons, remotes, and stuff sometimes (I work at BB).

Part of an interesting discussion for you: http://www.highdefforum.com/archive/t-59430.html As far as I am concerned, if the product is actually Funai, I would stay away as this brand is normally behong repair (speaking as a former repair shop owner). If you ever decide to go that route, I'd follow the advice that come so often in the discussion: `BUY and extended WARRANTY!!". I do beileve you'd be better off with know half decent product in the 720p instead of the throw away technology!

Our neighbours seemed to have gone pretty wild about that set: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...1039018&page=4

Cheers!
René

[ScooterMcTavish]

Thanks Rene,

I did actually see that forum, but my concern is that each different size screen likely has a different panel manufacturer and different guts. I also agree with the "run screaming" from Funai (and Orion for that matter).

Problem with this here old Internet thingie is that there is a huge amount of inaccurate info out there. So far I've seen these sets attributed to no less than five manufacturers including Funai, Prima, Orion, AOC, and yes, Samsung. Maybe they're all right?

Sad part is "throw away" doesn't mean what it used to. I have a beautiful $900 HK receiver I bought about 5 years ago. It has 2 component in, 1 out, and no hdmi or DVI pass through. Best it can produce is DD-EX or DTS-ES (6.1). Despite sounding great, it is approaching obsolescence as it lacks many features even basic $200-300 AVRs have today. At the pace of technology, everything is becoming "throw away" way quicker than it should.

Maybe this is why I need to justify a LCD costing under seven c-notes as I'm worried that an LCD over fourteen c-notes will be obsolete in the same time period.

At least stereo is still stereo (well maybe its 2.1, but who's counting).

[TECHNOKID]

it is approaching obsolescence as it lacks many features even basic $200-300 AVRs have today.

Little out of your post but this can be recycled: simply use as an external amp to your new amp if it has pre-out of course. Provides you extra power while protecting the new amp and keeping its power for other speakers (that is what I intend to do with my many stereo amps).

Maybe this is why I need to justify a LCD costing under seven c-notes as I'm worried that an LCD over fourteen c-notes will be obsolete in the same time period.

Quite a valid point... as I mentioned, the extended warranty could provide you with some security? Apparently BB provides them at affordable/reasonnable pricing compare to most stores? The purchase could then still be advantageous compare to the competition? Just food for tought...

[ScooterMcTavish]

Well, guess we can put the kibosh on this thread. My wife just laid the kibosh on me.

I thought I would take the chance and go to BB today and pick the set up anyways. Least I can try it for up to 30 days and if crap, can return it.

You know that Southwest airlines ad where the clerk lady's head rotates 180 degrees? That was my wife today. Wow, I heard about everything from roof repairs to winter vacations, to ????

So, I guess I'll NOT be looking for this set right now. Now all I need to do is find the programs written by DVLX for their DLPs to see if I can hook up my laptop to try and get the PS3 working through DVI.

Gah.

[TECHNOKID]

Isn't the basement a man's turf menaning out of bounds to the lady Sorry man got to do what the BOSS says right

[zolie]

Since i'm the only one whom seems to own one of these dynex lcd i have to comment

first i sell flatscreens at walmart i'm not kidding you guys

dynex is equal imho to the rest of the basic lcd series

only thing i wish is the hdmi 1.3

once in a while shaw really sucks with lipsinc and 1.3 would take care of that

other than this i highly recomend this flatscreen

[zolie]

Ok just an update on the dynex 42 lcd

it actualy has the hdmi 1.3 however shaw box do not that why the lipsinc problem

[ScooterMcTavish]

Finally broke down - BB had the LG 47LG55 on clearance for $999 (same as Boxing Day). Haven't hooked it up yet, but I was able to justify the extra cost over the Dynex simply for the additional real estate.