ConsumerReports Issue on TVs, Do Agree with Ratings?
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its hard to believe reports generated by a company that wants you to pay to read them.
you'd be better off reading CNET's reviews of TV's but even then a review of something like a TV will always be somewhat subjective to the person reviewing the TV (just like any other thing in this world)
you'd be better off reading CNET's reviews of TV's but even then a review of something like a TV will always be somewhat subjective to the person reviewing the TV (just like any other thing in this world)
I don't get your premise. I actually agree that CR isn't a great source for electronic reviews (and CNET is marginally better at best, and lousy for TV's). But the idea that they are less credible because you pay for them makes no sense. The whole point of Consumer Reports is they don't take any advertising from the companies they are reviewing and, unlike CNEt and others, they don't accept free samples from the companies. As a result their only source of income is to charge the people who want reviews from a source not potentially compromised by the companies whose products they are reviewing. It makes total sense. It doesn't make them electronics experts, unfortunately, but it sure as heck makes them more trustworthy than CNET and others.
I don't get your premise. I actually agree that CR isn't a great source for electronic reviews (and CNET is marginally better at best, and lousy for TV's). But the idea that they are less credible because you pay for them makes no sense. The whole point of Consumer Reports is they don't take any advertising from the companies they are reviewing and, unlike CNEt and others, they don't accept free samples from the companies. As a result their only source of income is to charge the people who want reviews from a source not potentially compromised by the companies whose products they are reviewing. It makes total sense. It doesn't make them electronics experts, unfortunately, but it sure as heck makes them more trustworthy than CNET and others.
Here's their ranked order for over 50"... Doesn't seem to push LG at all...
1. Samsung PN58B650
2. Panasonic Viera TC-P54Z1
3. Panasonic Viera TC-P54V10
4. Samsung PN58B860
5. LG 60PS80
6. Samsung PN58B850
7. Panasonic Viera TC-P54S1
8. Panasonic Viera TC-P54G10
9. LG 60PS60
Results are even more brand-specific for 50". Three Samsungs in a row top the results, followed by 5 Panasonics in a row, then 2 LG's then 2 Insignia's at the bottom of the list...
Panasonic dominates the 42-46" category, with one token LG then Insignia at the bottom of the list.
LG is their highest ranked LCD this year.
In terms of reliability, Panasonic is the best with 2% problems, Samsung and Pioneer are at 3% and LG is at 5%.
1. Samsung PN58B650
2. Panasonic Viera TC-P54Z1
3. Panasonic Viera TC-P54V10
4. Samsung PN58B860
5. LG 60PS80
6. Samsung PN58B850
7. Panasonic Viera TC-P54S1
8. Panasonic Viera TC-P54G10
9. LG 60PS60
Results are even more brand-specific for 50". Three Samsungs in a row top the results, followed by 5 Panasonics in a row, then 2 LG's then 2 Insignia's at the bottom of the list...
Panasonic dominates the 42-46" category, with one token LG then Insignia at the bottom of the list.
LG is their highest ranked LCD this year.
In terms of reliability, Panasonic is the best with 2% problems, Samsung and Pioneer are at 3% and LG is at 5%.
I have a subscription to Consumerreports.org and logged on just now.
Quote:
Originally Posted by daniel'son /forum/post/18175170
^^ .. correct; based comment on initial read of first article. should have edited. thanxs.![]()
edit: what's yr source; not seeing some of the models you mention shown in ratings graph.
I have a subscription to Consumerreports.org and logged on just now.
Joined
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2,302 Posts
.. thanxs; appreciate it. that india site i linked must be incorrect. deleted my input.
![]()
.. thanxs; appreciate it. that india site i linked must be incorrect. deleted my input.
When CR buys products to test, it results a 2nd benefit beyond eliminating the conflict of interest that a donated test sample represents (give a bad review, and never get another sample to test from that company). When CR buys their test samples, they go to stores and get the same quality items that you or I would be buying. When CNET gets a sample provided by the manufacturer, you know that the sample has been hand-picked and then tweaked to its ultimate performance by the supplier before it leaves for CNET.
For that reason I discount a review unless the product was a blind purchase or there is a negative comment that I can corroborate from other sources.
When CR buys products to test, it results a 2nd benefit beyond eliminating the conflict of interest that a donated test sample represents (give a bad review, and never get another sample to test from that company). When CR buys their test samples, they go to stores and get the same quality items that you or I would be buying. When CNET gets a sample provided by the manufacturer, you know that the sample has been hand-picked and then tweaked to its ultimate performance by the supplier before it leaves for CNET.
For that reason I discount a review unless the product was a blind purchase or there is a negative comment that I can corroborate from other sources.
This video goes in to great detail about how Consumer Reports tests each TV they review. I'd watch this before you make any judgements about their methods or experience. You can skip ahead to the 9:20 mark unless you want to hear them sum up TV's at CES 2010 and then skip ahead again to 16:55 for more of their testing methodology and lastly skip to 41:03 for the final segment.
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/ele...book-chat.html
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/ele...book-chat.html
very well, you all make good points on CR's review process and i retract my statement
when i made the statement i was thinking more along the lines of their reliability reports simply because they only get those figures from subscribers and people that are subscribing for CR are more likely to buy a better brand/higher end model TV and this will likely skew the numbers a bit
when i made the statement i was thinking more along the lines of their reliability reports simply because they only get those figures from subscribers and people that are subscribing for CR are more likely to buy a better brand/higher end model TV and this will likely skew the numbers a bit
Consumer Reports premise is a great idea but very hard to make everyone happy. Remember a lot of their statistic come from readers.
I totally disagree with their auto reviews as they don't cover things I'm interested in.
As far as their tool and appliance reviews I find it almost impossible to find the models they recommend in the stores. By the time they finish their reviews the models are outdated.
I would not look to consumer report for reviews or recommendations on Flat Panels or for that matter AVS Forum members. It would seem that they are not in agreement. Trust your own eyes, make your purchase, and then don't read the Forum.
I totally disagree with their auto reviews as they don't cover things I'm interested in.
As far as their tool and appliance reviews I find it almost impossible to find the models they recommend in the stores. By the time they finish their reviews the models are outdated.
I would not look to consumer report for reviews or recommendations on Flat Panels or for that matter AVS Forum members. It would seem that they are not in agreement. Trust your own eyes, make your purchase, and then don't read the Forum.
Price is weighted in their reviews. So if you can produce something that is low priced you will move up in the ratings, even if what you produce is crap for that low price. In general owner reviews are going to be biased to what they bought, because few owners will admit they bought a piece of junk and got duped. So I take those with a grain of salt.
^^^Consumer Reports ratings target and are most useful to buyers with little or no knowledge of or enthusiasm for the products they're rating. Their target demographic is upper middle class professionals with no desire to do hours of research on their own before making purchases. Their test methodology is usually quite sound but their priorities when coming up with their ratings aren't skewed the same way as ours. I don't think the average AVS member is likely to choose a set with much weight given to the button arrangement on the remote or the quality of the set's internal speakers.
The worst aspect of this report is that it comes when virtually all the models tested have been discontinued.
The worst aspect of this report is that it comes when virtually all the models tested have been discontinued.
I personally like CR's practical 'everyman' approach. That POV is useful in tempering the obsessiveness that can result from weeks of online research. When possible, I weigh my online research against CR's review, and what I see in a retail store... and hope to make the best choice for my needs.
In today's world it's nearly impossible to find reviews that are not influenced by the mfg in some manner. Some slightly, and some ashamedly so. I wish CR had sufficient funding to keep better pace with electronics. On that note, I should renew my lapsed subscription.
Citivas, did they only review plasma & LCD separately, or did they rank them together as well?
- I'd be curious to see how they'd rate against one another.
As a CR fan, I'm a little discouraged that a review was posted now, when all new models should be hitting the shelves in the next 2 months. I'm seriously considering a purchase this spring and will be reading every review I can find on the latest plasmas vs. lcd.
In today's world it's nearly impossible to find reviews that are not influenced by the mfg in some manner. Some slightly, and some ashamedly so. I wish CR had sufficient funding to keep better pace with electronics. On that note, I should renew my lapsed subscription.
Citivas, did they only review plasma & LCD separately, or did they rank them together as well?
- I'd be curious to see how they'd rate against one another.
As a CR fan, I'm a little discouraged that a review was posted now, when all new models should be hitting the shelves in the next 2 months. I'm seriously considering a purchase this spring and will be reading every review I can find on the latest plasmas vs. lcd.
The reason it often seems to come after the models have been discontinued is that while they will devote an issue to, for example, "electronics" they don't actually review them all at the same time. They review the models over the course of the year, gradually adding individual reviews to their data. But then they do a special edition of the magazine where they compile all the reviews. I agree the timing of the electronics edition is odd -- they should do it in the fall. But they reviewed most of these models at least 6-9 months ago.
The reason it often seems to come after the models have been discontinued is that while they will devote an issue to, for example, "electronics" they don't actually review them all at the same time. They review the models over the course of the year, gradually adding individual reviews to their data. But then they do a special edition of the magazine where they compile all the reviews. I agree the timing of the electronics edition is odd -- they should do it in the fall. But they reviewed most of these models at least 6-9 months ago.
Why I read forums like this, while trying to ascertain which poster is being honest, while which one has their own axe to grind and are acting like a shill...... CR is, however, one of the most objective reports out there, because they DONOT depend on income from the people whose products they are revewing....
I think even in this forum, there is a tendency to moderate forum comments that are too critical and harsh of certain products, for fear of getting all the ad income reduced....whoever owns this forum is making a killing from all the ads...
The problem with CR is that with so many products and types, it is like being a jack of all trades, rather than a master of one....and the products are usually a bit old, when they finally get reveiwed
Why I read forums like this, while trying to ascertain which poster is being honest, while which one has their own axe to grind and are acting like a shill...... CR is, however, one of the most objective reports out there, because they DONOT depend on income from the people whose products they are revewing....
I think even in this forum, there is a tendency to moderate forum comments that are too critical and harsh of certain products, for fear of getting all the ad income reduced....whoever owns this forum is making a killing from all the ads...
The problem with CR is that with so many products and types, it is like being a jack of all trades, rather than a master of one....and the products are usually a bit old, when they finally get reveiwed
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