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Official KDL..EX500/501 Thread - Page 6

post #151 of 6155
3/7/10 at 4:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by rwb1921 View Post

I had the same issues with the 55V5100. I have had no issues at all with the 55EX500. I would try and go with the EX500 if you can.

Thanks...I pray that the retailer lets me exchange. They say they do exchanges on defective merchandise (which this is, technically), but that I need my original box. Problem is, I wasn't home when they delivered it (my roommate let them in) and for some odd and extremely annoying reason, they took the box with them.

This is from Video and Audio Center in Santa Monica. Anyone have any experience dealing with them? They sell a lot of sets online through Amazon.
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post #152 of 6155
3/7/10 at 4:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan134 View Post

Thanks...I pray that the retailer lets me exchange. They say they do exchanges on defective merchandise (which this is, technically), but that I need my original box. Problem is, I wasn't home when they delivered it (my roommate let them in) and for some odd and extremely annoying reason, they took the box with them.

This is from Video and Audio Center in Santa Monica. Anyone have any experience dealing with them? They sell a lot of sets online through Amazon.

I have not used them before, but I got mine from Howard's and they were great about returning mine. I did not have the box and they said that was no problem. Excellent customer service.
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post #153 of 6155
3/7/10 at 4:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by rwb1921 View Post

I have not used them before, but I got mine from Howard's and they were great about returning mine. I did not have the box and they said that was no problem. Excellent customer service.

Thanks for the reassurance. Video and Audio Center has a great reputation on Amazon, so I am hoping they will accommodate my situation. Talking with them tomorrow, hopefully I can get this worked out. I know 800 bucks for a 40inch set is comparatively cheap, but it's still a lot of money and want to know that my set is free of defects.
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post #154 of 6155
3/7/10 at 5:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan134 View Post

Thanks for the reassurance. Video and Audio Center has a great reputation on Amazon, so I am hoping they will accommodate my situation. Talking with them tomorrow, hopefully I can get this worked out. I know 800 bucks for a 40inch set is comparatively cheap, but it's still a lot of money and want to know that my set is free of defects.

I emphasized to Howard's all the issues the tv had and even told them about the firmware update for the 55V5100 I performed (gotten from Sony). But the sound issues remained and I referred them to Best Buy comments about the TV and here at AVS. That even replacing the motherboard did not help others. I said I felt that I should not have to go through this for a new tv and they agreed. I was within their 30-day return policy.
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post #155 of 6155
3/7/10 at 7:15pm
I'm reading this message thread with great interest because I am seriously considering getting the KDL-40EX500 (or the Costco version, the KDL-40EX501) as my new big screen TV (my other choice are the Samsung LN40C630 or the new VIZIO M420NV LED edge-lit LCD, which should reach Costco or Wal-Mart within the next ten days).

Has anyone tweaked around with the controls and found a good display setting for the 40EX500?
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post #156 of 6155
3/8/10 at 9:43am
I did some auditioning at my local BB. So far that store was the best to see these TV's in as all of them were fed Hi-def via component and on the same loop so picking out differences was easier.

They had a 60EX700 and nearby they had a 55Ex500 so I could quickly switch back and forth between the two.

The EX700 obviously has the nicer user menu with the XMB interface but to me that's bells and whistles. I don't know about you but I don't spend a lot of time in user menus once I've calibrated the set. The Wi-Fi feature is nice but again, for us in Canada the online services don't amount to much more than Youtube......basically all stuff I can easily access with my PS3.

Detail, sharpness and such is a wash between the two.....I can't visibly see any difference between Bravia 2 or Bravia 3. Maybe there could be if watching a blu-ray in a proper viewing environment but I highly doubt they would end up being the type of improvement that would slap you in the face.

Blacks are very good on both given the viewing environment at BB and that's with both sets set on Vivid with the picture at max, brightness at 50 and backlight at 8. I got to watch the intro sequence of Planet Earth which has a great deal of black as you may know and both looked very good. I'd actually go out on a limb and say the blacks seemed to be a touch blacker on the EX500 but it's hard to say for sure without them being perfectly side by side.

After carefully watching the loop they had playing though other differences became apparent. The EX700 had flashlighting in the upper area just like the other 52EX700 I saw last week. Not so noticeable when a black screen was up (likely because I had to deal with some reflection on the screen due to the store overhead lighting) but when solid colors like blue or white or light gray were, it was clearly there.....the EX500 showed no such deviations in uniformity. So that's 2 out of 4 EX700s I've seen display this issue. Another thing I found interesting was even though these TVs use the same panel design, the EX500 had better off axis viewing angles....the EX700 clearly washed out earlier in the angle range and at a more rapid rate. It's interesting that the CCFL backlighting would help make the EX500 appear to be better in that regard.

These two TV's are options for me as replacements for my green blob SXRD. I'm definitely likely going to take the EX500 given what I saw today....especially given the price premium to step up to the EX700.
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post #157 of 6155
3/8/10 at 11:40am
Well, it looks like I am going to be able to exchange my 40v5100 for the EX500. I should have it by Friday or early next week. Will post reactions when it arrives.
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post #158 of 6155
3/8/10 at 12:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan134 View Post

Well, it looks like I am going to be able to exchange my 40v5100 for the EX500. I should have it by Friday or early next week. Will post reactions when it arrives.


If possible, could you note the black level of your V5100 now, in terms of a full black screen in a dark room? I'm interested to see what the jump is to the EX500.

Pictures would awesome if that's possible.

Who knows when/if reviews will be out, since CCFL is not as popular as LED edge lit, regardless of it's advantages.
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post #159 of 6155
3/8/10 at 1:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by gmarceau View Post

If possible, could you note the black level of your V5100 now, in terms of a full black screen in a dark room? I'm interested to see what the jump is to the EX500.

Pictures would awesome if that's possible.

Who knows when/if reviews will be out, since CCFL is not as popular as LED edge lit, regardless of it's advantages.

I do not know how to "note" the black level, but I will gladly take pics of a black screen in the dark tonight when I get home.

Will post around 8 or 9pm.
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post #160 of 6155
3/8/10 at 1:22pm
Excellent!

It would be interesting to see a black screen dark room pic of the V5100 w/ brightness set @ 50 vs. a later pic of the EX500 under the same conditions.

If you've got any blu-ray content, those comparisons would be great, too.

I own the 40V5100 now, I can live with a few of it's small problems, but I'm interested to see what this year's model can do.

Thanks
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post #161 of 6155
3/8/10 at 3:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Hawk View Post

I did some auditioning at my local BB. So far that store was the best to see these TV's in as all of them were fed Hi-def via component and on the same loop so picking out differences was easier.

They had a 60EX700 and nearby they had a 55Ex500 so I could quickly switch back and forth between the two.

The EX700 obviously has the nicer user menu with the XMB interface but to me that's bells and whistles. I don't know about you but I don't spend a lot of time in user menus once I've calibrated the set. The Wi-Fi feature is nice but again, for us in Canada the online services don't amount to much more than Youtube......basically all stuff I can easily access with my PS3.

Detail, sharpness and such is a wash between the two.....I can't visibly see any difference between Bravia 2 or Bravia 3. Maybe there could be if watching a blu-ray in a proper viewing environment but I highly doubt they would end up being the type of improvement that would slap you in the face.

Blacks are very good on both given the viewing environment at BB and that's with both sets set on Vivid with the picture at max, brightness at 50 and backlight at 8. I got to watch the intro sequence of Planet Earth which has a great deal of black as you may know and both looked very good. I'd actually go out on a limb and say the blacks seemed to be a touch blacker on the EX500 but it's hard to say for sure without them being perfectly side by side.

After carefully watching the loop they had playing though other differences became apparent. The EX700 had flashlighting in the upper area just like the other 52EX700 I saw last week. Not so noticeable when a black screen was up (likely because I had to deal with some reflection on the screen due to the store overhead lighting) but when solid colors like blue or white or light gray were, it was clearly there.....the EX500 showed no such deviations in uniformity. So that’s 2 out of 4 EX700s I've seen display this issue. Another thing I found interesting was even though these TVs use the same panel design, the EX500 had better off axis viewing angles....the EX700 clearly washed out earlier in the angle range and at a more rapid rate. It's interesting that the CCFL backlighting would help make the EX500 appear to be better in that regard.

These two TV's are options for me as replacements for my green blob SXRD. I'm definitely likely going to take the EX500 given what I saw today....especially given the price premium to step up to the EX700.


It is not the same panel. Sharp doesn't make a 55" AFAIK. It looks like the 52" and 60" are a sharp x-gen and the 55" is an S-LCD, AUO or something else, the 40 and 46 are ???. In addition, the ex700 specifies edge-lit LED, ex500 does not specify edge-lit ccfl. It may have traditional ccfl which should provide lighting throughout the back of the TV which would make uniformity somewhat easier to maintain. This is somewhat proven by the fact the 60" LED edge-lit is mostly less than 1" thick and around 2.5" towards the base. The ccfl backlit 60ex500 is close to 5" thick like a traditional LCD.
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post #162 of 6155
3/8/10 at 4:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by gmarceau View Post

Excellent!

It would be interesting to see a black screen dark room pic of the V5100 w/ brightness set @ 50 vs. a later pic of the EX500 under the same conditions.

If you've got any blu-ray content, those comparisons would be great, too.

I own the 40V5100 now, I can live with a few of it's small problems, but I'm interested to see what this year's model can do.

Thanks

No problem, will use those settings. Anything else you want me to adjust (ie color, backlight, etc.)? I need to wait until nightfall as my room gets SO much ambient light from the window. Few more hours.
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post #163 of 6155
3/8/10 at 7:10pm
Backlight at minimum is usually how I view, but I think the backlight system is the same from last year to this, so however it is that you use the panel works for me.
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post #164 of 6155
3/8/10 at 7:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by thecraw View Post

It is not the same panel. Sharp doesn't make a 55" AFAIK. It looks like the 52" and 60" are a sharp x-gen and the 55" is an S-LCD, AUO or something else, the 40 and 46 are ???. In addition, the ex700 specifies edge-lit LED, ex500 does not specify edge-lit ccfl. It may have traditional ccfl which should provide lighting throughout the back of the TV which would make uniformity somewhat easier to maintain. This is somewhat proven by the fact the 60" LED edge-lit is mostly less than 1" thick and around 2.5" towards the base. The ccfl backlit 60ex500 is close to 5" thick like a traditional LCD.

AUO doesn't make 55" panels, either. That's a new size and I'm guessing it's chimei or S-LCD. Get the feeling it's chimei, though
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post #165 of 6155
3/8/10 at 7:46pm
Do these compare well to the led lcd tvs? Thinking about picking one up, or an LED.
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post #166 of 6155
3/8/10 at 7:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by gmarceau View Post

Backlight at minimum is usually how I view, but I think the backlight system is the same from last year to this, so however it is that you use the panel works for me.

You know I have the 40V5100 atm and not the EX500 yet, right?
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post #167 of 6155
3/8/10 at 8:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by disneyfun1 View Post

it is a 3 year warranty, says right on the box and the paperwork inside says it as well from sony. no need to use amex, we didnt. Ill try to get box size tomorrow night, its out in shed out back-just in case-but we got it to fit in a 2005 mazda 6 with no problem at all, slid right in with room to spare! its very thin, it really isnt much bigger than the set, maybe 3 inches thicker, 2 inches up and down and about 6-8 inches longer i would guess.

should have used american express. you would have received a 4 year warranty instead of a 3 year.....

i'm probably getting one tomorrow, got a raincheck!!!!!

ask me questions since i work at costco.
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post #168 of 6155
3/8/10 at 8:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan134 View Post

You know I have the 40V5100 atm and not the EX500 yet, right?

I'm aware, was just hoping to get a shot of last year's deepest black level vs. this year's model.
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post #169 of 6155
3/8/10 at 10:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by gmarceau View Post

AUO doesn't make 55" panels, either. That's a new size and I'm guessing it's chimei or S-LCD. Get the feeling it's chimei, though

That is what I thought too. They are mainly known for 40" and smaller panels but the pixels on the 55" ex500 sure look like MVA type3(2nd)/type4 and according to their website they do make larger panels so go figure... maybe they are stepping up their game:

"AUO is able to provide customers a full range of panel sizes and comprehensive applications, offering TFT-LCD panels in sizes ranging from 1.2 inches to greater than 65 inches. AUO generated NT$359"

http://auo.com/auoDEV/about.php
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post #170 of 6155
3/8/10 at 11:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by 92miata View Post

should have used american express. you would have received a 4 year warranty instead of a 3 year.....

i'm probably getting one tomorrow, got a raincheck!!!!!

ask me questions since i work at costco.



Do you get any type of discounts because you are a COSTCO employee? I have a friend that works there, but I rather ask you first before I ask him and find out he doesn't get a discount.
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post #171 of 6155
3/8/10 at 11:14pm
Here we go.

8 backlight, generally calibrated settings:

http://yfrog.com/j0dscf2943j

6 backlight, same settings:

http://yfrog.com/j5dscf2942j

Hope these help. God it looks awful in the dark.

-Dan
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post #172 of 6155
3/9/10 at 12:10am
^ You shot them with your camera on auto? Backlight 6 is brighter than 8

I suppose the point was to demonstrate uniformity and that it does, altho when viewed with your eye base black is slightly blacker and thusly the effect isn't as bad, propably so mild that it's obsolete to average joe.
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post #173 of 6155
3/9/10 at 12:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by 92miata View Post

should have used american express. you would have received a 4 year warranty instead of a 3 year.....

i'm probably getting one tomorrow, got a raincheck!!!!!

ask me questions since i work at costco.


I'm searching for the lowest cost Sony KDL-46EX500 on websites and most come with 12months parts and 12months labor warranty only.

Right now I am showing the lowest prices I can get it for is $890 with Bing.com discount through Circuit City.

I guess if I want to get 3 year warranty I found a solution, Squaretrade.com for $99 warranty, I'm covered for 3 years warrenty for the original amount I paid for of $890 if ST can't fix any problems I may have with the HDTV.

Instead of buying it at costco with the warranty included, btw I haven't seen the Sony KDL-46EX500 at my costco in Alhambra, so I don't even know how much it cost at costco. I'm just going to do all the leg work and purchasing my own warranty. I'm sure I'm still saving money. (I hope)

Hope that helps.
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post #174 of 6155
3/9/10 at 12:59am
Quote:
Originally Posted by badson View Post

^ You shot them with your camera on auto? Backlight 6 is brighter than 8

I suppose the point was to demonstrate uniformity and that it does, altho when viewed with your eye base black is slightly blacker and thusly the effect isn't as bad, propably so mild that it's obsolete to average joe.

No, I did not shoot on auto. Wide open aperture, and 1/60th shutter (may have been 1/30th, but it was the same for both shots). The backlight bleed is worse when the backlight is set at a more standard level (between 4-6). I know it is odd, but that is one of the flaws with the V series. It is hard to tell with these photos, I know they aren't great, but the bleed is actually quite bright, brightening up the overall photo when it stands out more.

Upping the brightness to 80-90 helps kill some of the bleed, but unfortunately it also kills the quality of the picture.
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post #175 of 6155
3/9/10 at 4:08am
Since I have a Costco membership, I'm seriously leaning towards getting the KDL-40EX501 at US$798+sales tax+California TV recycling fee. I've seen this model and the picture quality is quite good, though the colors in Standard and Movie display modes don't "pop out" like you get with a Samsung LCD panel.
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post #176 of 6155
3/9/10 at 4:14am
So i just bought a 40EX500 recently and it's a really good tv can't deny that. But i'm gonna talk mostly about input lag and Wii. Anyways don't be surprised if you notice my english is bad...i'm french canadian, hoping you will understand me though. So yesterday i was playing demos on my ps3 on this tv(ex500) all day since i don't have any games yet, well just one which is SSF2HD.
So yeah the image quality was very impressive even in gamemode it was just less smooth since motionflow is turned off when gamemode is on. And i couldn't notice any input lag but that doesn't mean there aren't though because when i started to play 2 fighting games on my Wii that i have lot of experiences (smash brawl/melee) I could notice all my timing were wrong and just couldn't play properly to the point i just gave up. So i connected my Wii back to my CRT to see if it was only my imagination or whatsoever but no it wasn't at all i suddenly got good again. So that's mostly it, if you're a hardcore Wii gamer i wouldn't recommend this tv i'm afraid. Can't say for Ps3 yet since i can only notice lag on games i have experiences and i've never played Street Fighter before, well only when i was a 6 years old kid when i had my snes but i don't think that count . So yeah i don't really know what Street Fighter high level play look like without lag i'm sorry you just cannot notice just by simply pressing buttons even on Wii but you notice something is wrong when you're playing with games you have experiences when you see all your timing is wrong and all.. Hoping someone will do input lag test really soon for ps3/hdmi though since i bought this tv just for my ps3 and i might return the tv really soon. hmm END.

Oh and in before if someone ask me if i was using component cable. Yes i did.
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post #177 of 6155
3/9/10 at 4:22am
Quote:
Originally Posted by 92miata View Post

should have used american express. you would have received a 4 year warranty instead of a 3 year.....

i'm probably getting one tomorrow, got a raincheck!!!!!

ask me questions since i work at costco.

Do you have to be a member during the 3 years of the warranty to make it valid?
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post #178 of 6155
3/9/10 at 4:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ReDyZ View Post

So i just bought a ex500 recently and it's a really good tv can't deny that. But i'm gonna talk mostly about input lag and wii. Anyways don't be surprised if you notice my english is bad...i'm french canadian, hoping you will understand me though. So yesterday i was playing demos on my ps3 on this tv(ex500) all day since i don't have any games yet, well just one which is SSF2HD.
So yeah the image quality was very impressive even in gamemode it was just less smooth since motionflow is turned off when gamemode is on. And i couldn't notice any input lag but that doesn't mean there aren't though because when i started to play 2 fighting games on my Wii that i have lot of experiences (smash brawl/melee) I could notice all my timing were wrong and just couldn't play properly to the point i just gave up. So i connected my wii back to my CRT to see if it was only my imagination or whatsoever but no it wasn't at all i suddenly got good again. So that's mostly it, if you're a hardcore wii gamer i wouldn't recommend this tv i'm afraid. Can't say for Ps3 yet since i can only notice lag on games i have experiences and i've never played Street Fighter before, well only when i was a 6 years old kid when i had my snes but i don't think that count . So yeah i don't really know what Street Fighter high level play look like without lag i'm sorry you just cannot notice just by simply pressing buttons even on Wii but you notice something is wrong when you're playing with games you have experiences when you see all your timing is wrong and all.. Hoping someone will do input lag test really soon for ps3/hdmi though since i bought this tv just for my ps3 and i might return the tv really soon. hmm END.

Oh and in before if someone ask me if i was using component cable. Yes i did.

There's a couple of owners on a Dutch forum who've mentioned that this TV does indeed suffer from input lag, even in game mode. The EX400 seems to fair better in this area.
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post #179 of 6155
3/9/10 at 5:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan134 View Post

Here we go.

8 backlight, generally calibrated settings:

http://yfrog.com/j0dscf2943j

6 backlight, same settings:

http://yfrog.com/j5dscf2942j

Hope these help. God it looks awful in the dark.

-Dan

Cool! I never keep my set above 3 on backlight. I find that to be enough. Actually, that looks pretty uniform, although there is some flashlighting in the corners, which is similar to my unit.

Looking forward to your EX500 pics.
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post #180 of 6155
3/9/10 at 5:49am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ReDyZ View Post

So i just bought a ex500 recently and it's a really good tv can't deny that. But i'm gonna talk mostly about input lag and wii. Anyways don't be surprised if you notice my english is bad...i'm french canadian, hoping you will understand me though. So yesterday i was playing demos on my ps3 on this tv(ex500) all day since i don't have any games yet, well just one which is SSF2HD.
So yeah the image quality was very impressive even in gamemode it was just less smooth since motionflow is turned off when gamemode is on. And i couldn't notice any input lag but that doesn't mean there aren't though because when i started to play 2 fighting games on my Wii that i have lot of experiences (smash brawl/melee) I could notice all my timing were wrong and just couldn't play properly to the point i just gave up. So i connected my wii back to my CRT to see if it was only my imagination or whatsoever but no it wasn't at all i suddenly got good again. So that's mostly it, if you're a hardcore wii gamer i wouldn't recommend this tv i'm afraid. Can't say for Ps3 yet since i can only notice lag on games i have experiences and i've never played Street Fighter before, well only when i was a 6 years old kid when i had my snes but i don't think that count . So yeah i don't really know what Street Fighter high level play look like without lag i'm sorry you just cannot notice just by simply pressing buttons even on Wii but you notice something is wrong when you're playing with games you have experiences when you see all your timing is wrong and all.. Hoping someone will do input lag test really soon for ps3/hdmi though since i bought this tv just for my ps3 and i might return the tv really soon. hmm END.

Oh and in before if someone ask me if i was using component cable. Yes i did.

Thanks for this info! I'm really concerned about lag over component for my Wii as well. Can I ask what size model you got?
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