Tcl Led Tvs

[OnMyWay]

Has anybody had any experience with the TCL TVs sold in the Philippines or the US?  I see them in the major stores here and the HD quality is very good, rivaling the big names that cost 10-20 k more for at 39-46 inch set.

 

They sell in the US too but I don't know if they are the same units (manufacturing quality wise) as the Phils units.  The guy at SM said they were assembled in Phils with Samsung screens, but that does not seem to make sense because TCL is a Chinese company.

 

On Amazon.com, the reviews are excellent.  They are currently the "best buys" in LED sets.

 

It is probably not the set I am interested in, but Abenson has a 39" for p20,999, if anybody is interested.  That is the best price I have seen for ~40 inch set, and the picture is excellent.

[Jake]

Has anybody had any experience with the TCL TVs sold in the Philippines or the US?  I see them in the major stores here and the HD quality is very good, rivaling the big names that cost 10-20 k more for at 39-46 inch set.

 

They sell in the US too but I don't know if they are the same units (manufacturing quality wise) as the Phils units.  The guy at SM said they were assembled in Phils with Samsung screens, but that does not seem to make sense because TCL is a Chinese company.

 

On Amazon.com, the reviews are excellent.  They are currently the "best buys" in LED sets.

 

It is probably not the set I am interested in, but Abenson has a 39" for p20,999, if anybody is interested.  That is the best price I have seen for ~40 inch set, and the picture is excellent.

Hey OMW,

 

Besides the manufacturers warranty, can you purchase an extended warranty from the store?

I wonder what services they offer when your new LED TV takes a nose dive within the warranty

period?  I strongly recommend buying a power converter-regulator --1000 Watt Diamond Series

Voltage Transformer with Regulator for about 90 bucks.

I also bought a Chinese made 46" LCD (Hisense) for about $350 from WalFart.  It was refurbished

so I bought an extended 3 year warranty.  So far, so good.....

[OnMyWay]

Besides the manufacturers warranty, can you purchase an extended warranty from the store?

 

I think they offer them.  When I bought my LG refrigerator at Western Appliance they tried to sell me the extended warranty, but I did not take it.

 

On Amazon in the US, they have a 2 year manufacturer's warranty.  I didn't check the Phils warranty yet.

[intrepid]

Hey OMW, Besides the manufacturers warranty, can you purchase an extended warranty from the store? I wonder what services they offer when your new LED TV takes a nose dive within the warranty period? I strongly recommend buying a power converter-regulator --1000 Watt Diamond Series Voltage Transformer with Regulator for about 90 bucks. voltage-converter-dsr-1000-watt.jpg

 

Hey Jake,

 

Why the Diamond Transformer?  Mainly for the regulator because of the brownouts and voltage fluctuation?  Is that about the best way to save electronics in the PI?

[Jake]

Hey OMW, Besides the manufacturers warranty, can you purchase an extended warranty from the store? I wonder what services they offer when your new LED TV takes a nose dive within the warranty period? I strongly recommend buying a power converter-regulator --1000 Watt Diamond Series Voltage Transformer with Regulator for about 90 bucks. voltage-converter-dsr-1000-watt.jpg

 

Hey Jake,

 

Why the Diamond Transformer?  Mainly for the regulator because of the brownouts and voltage fluctuation?  Is that about the best way to save electronics in the PI?

Hello Danny,

 

Not necessary that particular brand but hopefully they have something similar sold in PI.

I would hate to smell brunt components on a newly purchased high ticket item because

it wasn't protected.  It would give me a peace of mind, especially during intense lightning

storms and severe voltage fluctuations that is the norm for the Philippines.  

 

Here's that link again: http://www.220-electronics.com/voltage-converter-buying-guide.html

They report that US military uses these devices in the war zone of Iraq and Afghanistan.  

I would assume the special operators deployed in southern Mindanao probably use such

devices.  

 

The bottom line is during very severe conditions, the fuse will pop in the converter-regulator

if it's own heavy duty regulation circuitry does not do the job.  It's the first line of defense and

will prevent that voltage spike from killing your new LCD TV.  I would rather have the less

expensive converter-regulator blow out (50-100 bucks) than my brand new 46" LCD.  I also

have some distrust that local TV warranty services may not cover such common occurrences.

 

One more thing: I would completely disconnect the power plug(s) while you're away for an

extended period.  

 

Respectfully -- Jake  

Edited April 7, 2013 by Jake
sentence structure

[Dougbert]

I worked in the LCD capital equipment industry for several years--in fact I'm about to start a contract in it again this week.  There are only a few manufacturers of TV-sized LCD panels in the world--LG, Samsung, Sharp, AUO, and Chi-Mei are the main ones.  They have fabs in their home countries (S. Korea, Japan, Taiwan) as well as in China (cheap labor, lax environmental laws).  Many panel manufacturers make different types of panels to meet various price points and sizes.  These panels are sold to all the other TV makers.  The dirty secret is that the panels are usually graded by quality (number of defective pixels, their location and type) and the lower grade panels end up in the cheaper models.  Different technologies provide different qualities (contrast, viewing angle, brightness, etc.), so it pays to see it before you buy.

[Call me bubba]

have you considered buying a CLASS B unit?

much. way much cheaper than in the store front yet same or nearly same warranty

[Jake]

I worked in the LCD capital equipment industry for several years--in fact I'm about to start a contract in it again this week.  There are only a few manufacturers of TV-sized LCD panels in the world--LG, Samsung, Sharp, AUO, and Chi-Mei are the main ones.  They have fabs in their home countries (S. Korea, Japan, Taiwan) as well as in China (cheap labor, lax environmental laws).  Many panel manufacturers make different types of panels to meet various price points and sizes.  These panels are sold to all the other TV makers.  The dirty secret is that the panels are usually graded by quality (number of defective pixels, their location and type) and the lower grade panels end up in the cheaper models.  Different technologies provide different qualities (contrast, viewing angle, brightness, etc.), so it pays to see it before you buy.

Hey Dougbert,

 

As a bench tech at a local casino, I have replaced quite a few LCD panels.  LG and Samsung are 

some of the best panel makers in town.  The major cause for replacement was irate casino patrons

punching through the touch screen with enough force to further damage the delicate panels.  For

any given computer monitor or LCD TV, I believe the panels are the most expensive electronic part.

 

Anyway, I charge the customer the full retail price of the LCD panel, plus repair time, plus my smoke

and coffee break.....he, he.

 

Jake

[Dougbert]

I worked in the LCD capital equipment industry for several years--in fact I'm about to start a contract in it again this week.  There are only a few manufacturers of TV-sized LCD panels in the world--LG, Samsung, Sharp, AUO, and Chi-Mei are the main ones.  They have fabs in their home countries (S. Korea, Japan, Taiwan) as well as in China (cheap labor, lax environmental laws).  Many panel manufacturers make different types of panels to meet various price points and sizes.  These panels are sold to all the other TV makers.  The dirty secret is that the panels are usually graded by quality (number of defective pixels, their location and type) and the lower grade panels end up in the cheaper models.  Different technologies provide different qualities (contrast, viewing angle, brightness, etc.), so it pays to see it before you buy.

Hey Dougbert,

 

As a bench tech at a local casino, I have replaced quite a few LCD panels.  LG and Samsung are 

some of the best panel makers in town.  The major cause for replacement was irate casino patrons

punching through the touch screen with enough force to further damage the delicate panels.  For

any given computer monitor or LCD TV, I believe the panels are the most expensive electronic part.

 

Anyway, I charge the customer the full retail price of the LCD panel, plus repair time, plus my smoke

and coffee break.....he, he.

 

Jake

Haha!  Who would have thought we work on the same technology.  I'm a computer vision guy and work on the inspection and repair (inline in the fab) capital equipment business doing image processing/analysis work.  I'm curious what symptoms you see as a result of the irate fingers?  Does the display fail in the local area or is there some larger problem (whole rows/colums going bad)?  Or maybe its just the touch sense that dies...

 

These things are not made for long life--especially the CFL backlight ones.  The panels are essentially an active matrix with the pixel drive electronics formed on a plate of glass (usually a FET transistor, a cap, and some electrodes per pixel).  Then there is a thin smear of precisely made liquid crystal goop sandwiched between that glass and another plate that is the front glass.  Depending on the technology the color filter array may be deposited on the second plate.  If it's a touch panel I think the sensing electronics are also on this front plate.  The plates are thin (1mm or less) even on the large panels.  They flex.  You press too hard and the very thin metal connections deposited on the glass will fracture.  Or you can squeeze the LC material too much and leave a finger shaped divot of discoloration.

 

I can believe the panels are pricey.  The only other expensive to produce parts would be the pcbs/electronics modules.  I agree with you--Samsung and LG seem to be the leaders in quality LCD displays.

 

Sorry for all the techno-babble...

 

Dougbert

[Jake]

 

I worked in the LCD capital equipment industry for several years--in fact I'm about to start a contract in it again this week.  There are only a few manufacturers of TV-sized LCD panels in the world--LG, Samsung, Sharp, AUO, and Chi-Mei are the main ones.  They have fabs in their home countries (S. Korea, Japan, Taiwan) as well as in China (cheap labor, lax environmental laws).  Many panel manufacturers make different types of panels to meet various price points and sizes.  These panels are sold to all the other TV makers.  The dirty secret is that the panels are usually graded by quality (number of defective pixels, their location and type) and the lower grade panels end up in the cheaper models.  Different technologies provide different qualities (contrast, viewing angle, brightness, etc.), so it pays to see it before you buy.

Hey Dougbert,

 

As a bench tech at a local casino, I have replaced quite a few LCD panels.  LG and Samsung are 

some of the best panel makers in town.  The major cause for replacement was irate casino patrons

punching through the touch screen with enough force to further damage the delicate panels.  For

any given computer monitor or LCD TV, I believe the panels are the most expensive electronic part.

 

Anyway, I charge the customer the full retail price of the LCD panel, plus repair time, plus my smoke

and coffee break.....he, he.

 

Jake

Haha!  Who would have thought we work on the same technology.  I'm a computer vision guy and work on the inspection and repair (inline in the fab) capital equipment business doing image processing/analysis work.  I'm curious what symptoms you see as a result of the irate fingers?  Does the display fail in the local area or is there some larger problem (whole rows/colums going bad)?  Or maybe its just the touch sense that dies...

 

These things are not made for long life--especially the CFL backlight ones.  The panels are essentially an active matrix with the pixel drive electronics formed on a plate of glass (usually a FET transistor, a cap, and some electrodes per pixel).  Then there is a thin smear of precisely made liquid crystal goop sandwiched between that glass and another plate that is the front glass.  Depending on the technology the color filter array may be deposited on the second plate.  If it's a touch panel I think the sensing electronics are also on this front plate.  The plates are thin (1mm or less) even on the large panels.  They flex.  You press too hard and the very thin metal connections deposited on the glass will fracture.  Or you can squeeze the LC material too much and leave a finger shaped divot of discoloration.

 

I can believe the panels are pricey.  The only other expensive to produce parts would be the pcbs/electronics modules.  I agree with you--Samsung and LG seem to be the leaders in quality LCD displays.

 

Sorry for all the techno-babble...

 

Dougbert

Hello Dougbert,

 

Yeah, we can talk like geeks anytime and any day on this forum.  Actually, it's not the irate customer's fingers

that does the damage.....it's the punch through with their fist!  Most of the time, I get lucky just replacing the

damage touchscreen, mostly made by 3M.  I replace about 3 touchscreen per month due to severe scratches

made by their lucky charms (metal Budhas) or diamond rings.  Once repairs or replacement are completed,

I perform a TS calibration and also a video calibration using a color bar and pattern generator.  A few dead

or continuously on pixels are not that critical in gaming electronics, so I return the LCD monitors back to the

casino floor.  This particular casino has over 3,000 state of art slot machines.

 

In my 35 plus years as senior ET in the US Navy, gaming and commercial electronics, I still find this statement

true about general electronics: it's all FM.  For example, the term LCD -- liquid crystal display.  When was the

last time you held a crystal that was liquid??  See....it's all F..... magic!  

 

Respectfully -- Jake