tha_dvd_man

I just got a Philips 20" flatscreen (20PT6441) and a Sony DVP-NS575P DVD player. The problem seems to be quite a bit worse when watching DVDs (s-video and a/v seems to make no difference with the problem), although it is kind of noticable when watching regular cable tv. Basically the image will 'bleed' to the right of the screen. It's much more noticable with stuff like white text on black background, or stars. With the stars, for example, there will be a long white long off to the right of each star. Or with text, like a white movie title on black background, sometimes it'lll spread all the way to the right edge of the screen, creating a sort of big white bar.

Now I know I've seen this kind of thing before, but usually not to this extent. I looked at a couple other flatscreens we have (some 13" and a 27" Sony) and they don't have this problem. Did I get unlucky, or what? Obviously I'm going to return it if I can't fix it, but should I try for another of the same model, or just get an entirely different tv?

Thanks.

DVD Josh

I have seen the TV you are talking about. Basically, Phillips are not great brands. I was not impressed with the Phillips, and that was stacked up next to the off-brands!! Your phillips, I believe was $180. I'd step up to the new Sony Wega 20" F120 model which has 16:9 vertical compression for viewing anamorphic dvds with increased resolution. Or the Toshiba, which is a very nice tv as well.

tha_dvd_man

Thanks.

tha_dvd_man

Do you know anywhere on the internet that specifies this tv has "16:9 vertical compression"? I can't find any site that does, including the Sony website. Since it won't be me paying for the tv, I'd need proof for the justification for the jump in price.

tha_dvd_man

I just found this:

http://www.users.muohio.edu/corsilcj/169enhanced.htm
"For Wega owners: Wegas under 27" do not have 16:9 enhanced mode. That means that this article does not relate to those with a 13, 20, and 24 Sony Wega. If your Wega is 27"+, then there's an issue that needs to be resolved: Out of the box, 16:9 enhanced mode oversqueezes the picture...click here to fix this problem."

Simply outdated or what?

X

Yes, outdated.

I have the Toshiba and would recommend it. It runs about $200-220 and has the 16:9 squeeze.

tha_dvd_man

Cool beans. Thanks X. I think I remember seeing a 20" Toshiba at Best Buy.....that would have to be it, right?

This:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....4&type=product

DVD Josh

dvd man, I just owned the f120 model (do NOT get the f100) 20" Wega and it has the mode. It says so on the actual box. The Toshiba does not.

tha_dvd_man

Oh, ok then. But now I'm confused about the Toshiba.

DVD Josh

Only the AF44 model toshiba's 24" and up have the v-compression feature. The 20" does not.

tha_dvd_man

Okay, so the 20" Toshiba at Best Buy for $220 is the 20AF44. I go to the Toshiba site, and lo and behold, they don't have the 20AF44 listed. But, they do have 14AF44 (14"), 20AF43 (20"), and 24AF44 (24") listed, and for each it lists "16:9 Mode" as a video feature (the 27AF44, however, does not have 16:9 listed).

http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/televisi...p?model=20af43

How convenient. Any help? The "16:9 Mode" is the anamorphic support, correct?

X

Yes, that's it.

I got the 20AF43 model. The only difference I saw was a slightly different remote control. The 43's wasn't laid out very well.

The 43 model definitely has the squeeze. I'm pretty sure I saw it on the 44's remote but I didn't try it out at the store.

DVD Josh

My brother and fellow forum member just picked up the 27" AF44 model, and it's got it. According to him, and he did a ton of research on it, the 20" AF44 model DOES NOT have the 16:9 mode.

And yes, as I said before, the 16:9 (or v-compression) mode is for viewing anamorphic WS DVDs in increased resolution.

tha_dvd_man

Okay then, thanks a lot. I'll try to find the AF43 somewhere, but I think Best Buy only has the AF44, and according to circuitcity.com they don't even have any flatscreen Toshibas. So I'll probably get the 20" Wega FS120. Didn't want to be spending this much money, though.

-edit-
whoah, the toshiba site says the AF43's speakers are a total 5watts ("5 W Audio (Total)"), and the Sony's is 20 total ("10W x 2"). That kinda tips the scale...

X

It looks like somebody has to walk into Best Buy and try the remote because it sure has the 16:9 button...



(Third row center, rightmost button. The same place it is on my 43's remote)

tha_dvd_man

X

Given that the 20" 44 model has the 16:9 button on its remote and that it looks like the 44 model is a slight upgrade of the 43 model I'm willing to bet the 44 has the 16:9 squeeze.

Any takers?

DVD Josh

I was in the same boat as the OP and I am almost certain that it doesn't have that mode (or that button). Is it possible that it was a planned feature and that's a prototype? Why wouldn't they advertise the feature more? It's not on the box, I can tell you that much.

But if it does, I'm willing to admit I'm wrong . I bet you nothing X!

However, if we can have another discussion, if both do have 16:9, I'd STILL go with the Sony. The recent AF44 models (I can't speak to the AF43s) all have sub-par picture. Even with in store tweeking, the colors looks over saturated and washed out. The reds were especially bad. The Wega had the best picture, and why I went with the Wega over the Toshiba. At the time, price was the same (now the Wega is $25 more).

X

I don't know what my 43's box said but it has the squeeze and I have used it. The button is on the remotes of both the 43 and the 44. I looked at Toshiba's site and they're showing the 44's remote with their 43 set. I wonder if they supply it with the 43 now or if they just use the 43's description for the 44 as well now. The sets appear identical with only slightly different remotes. I did a comparison with the Sony which was sitting right next to the Toshiba myself. I tweaked both of them and preferred the picture on the Toshiba even though I have had Sony sets (XBR and Wega) before and really believe in them. I vaguely recall the reds and fleshtones being truer on the Toshiba. I don't remember for sure but the Sony may not have had the squeeze. Or maybe it was component inputs it didn't have. I just seem to remember it was missing some feature and it cost significantly more.

I don't like the Toshiba brand overall due to some nasty things one of their companies did in the 80's that undermined our national security so they could make a profit. So I try not to buy Toshiba and I really look for any shortcomings when compared to other brands. But the 43 was enough superior to me that I went with it over the Sony.

tha_dvd_man

oi vey...

X, how is the sound on the 43? I don't think I'll be getting a 5.1 setup for a while so I'll want a tv with good speakers, and it appears as though the Toshiba has a total of 5watts while the Wega has 20watts.

X

Let me turn it up and see. It's a kitchen set so I haven't had a need for it to be very loud yet.

X

Ack! I'm half deaf right now.

It is VERY loud. I normally have it at around 11-15. It goes up to 64. At 64 everything is understandable and doesn't sound distorted. But the high volume hurts my ears.

You should give it a try at the store.

tha_dvd_man

Okay, cool. Thanks a lot both of you. It's going to be a close battle between the 20AF4/3 and the Wega!


Ahh, one more question X-- at epinions someone wrote this about the AF43: Have you noticed this?

X

No, I never noticed this before.

I stuck my ear right up to the set and did hear a very faint buzzing. I couldn't hear it more than an inch or so away. It got covered up when I turned the volume up to about 4 which is pretty faint.

I tried the same thing on my 27" Wega and heard no buzzing.

DVD Josh

DVD Man, when you go to Best Buy, please report back on both the remote (if it has the 16:9 button) and whether or not it's got the 16:9 mode (and also if it makes any mention on the box).

Then, we shall be sure