dareynolds's Full Review: Olevia LT37HVE 37 in. HDTV-Ready TV
Prices of Flat Panel TV’s have been steadily coming down over the last couple years, so I decided to take the plunge as a Christmas gift to myself last year. However, arriving at my decision to go with this TV took a bit more effort than I’d anticipated. There is a lot more involved in evaluating Flat Panel TV’s than just size and price: HDTV, HDTV Ready, EDTV, LCD, Plasma, Tuners, Set Top Box, PIP, Resolution (1080i vs. 720p vs. 480), etc. It was a full alphabet soup of variables involved in this decision process!
A “videophile” I am not, so all this stuff was very foreign to me. I wound up having to do a fair amount of education and reading to fully understand all these variables so that I could be sure I was making a sound purchase. So, let me start out with a little “Flat Panel 101” and convey to you the fruits of all my education and reading. Hopefully it will save some of you newbie’s a whole lot of time and effort in making sense of the world of Flat Panel TV’s!! (all you videoheads can skip over this 𣺝” stuff, its most likely very simple stuff to you)
FLAT PANEL 101:
You’ll probably notice that the prices of Flat Panel TV’s can vary greatly amongst models of the exact same size. I was scratching my head wondering why one 42’’ TV cost 50% more than another 42’’ TV when they looked virtually identical? Well there are a few key things that can swing prices in either direction:
1. Plasma display vs. LCD display
2. EDTV vs. HDTV
3. Built in Tuner(s)
1. Plasma vs. LCD
For many years, Plasma Televisions were your only option when it came to a wide screen flat panel TV. Everyone who sees a big, flat, oversized TV hanging on the wall calls it a “plasma TV”, so what’s all this LCD stuff I keep seeing! LCD technology isn’t a new invention; we’ve seen them for years in (typically) small stuff like calculators, digital clocks, etc. Well, LCD is now ready for prime time in the Flat Panel TV world and rivals plasma in terms of capabilities and price.
At the outset I had no idea what the difference was between the two. Plasma and LCD Flat Panel TV’s look similar to the naked eye, but they are actually quite different in terms of the underlying technology. To render a picture on the screen, Plasma’s use millions of tiny gas plasma cells charged by precise electrical voltages to each gas cell; LCD screens use liquid crystals pushed in the space between two glass plates. These different underlying technologies create pro’s and con’s relevant to each when it comes to Flat Panel TV’s. (See the Appendix at the bottom of this review for a full list of LCD vs. Plasma differences).
After educating myself on the difference, the decision was a no brainer for me in that LCD was worth the extra costs. The weight, durability and fragile nature of plasma (see appendix) were the major turnoffs with plasma for me. I simply didn’t want to deal with the “high maintenance” nature of plasma; I just want to plug it in and watch!
2. EDTV vs. HDTV:
This is another area to pay attention to when shopping around for Flat Panels. EDTV is only capable of displaying 480 lines of vertical resolution (visible lines of detail on the screen) vs. HDTV being capable of either 720 or 1080 lines of vertical resolution. Why is this important? Because HiDef media needs to be rendered at 720 or 1080 resolution in order to get the clarity and quality associated with HiDef. An EDTV will still be able to show HiDef content, but it will down convert the 720 or 1080 resolution signal and it will only be displayed at 420 resolution quality, thus squashing your HiDef viewing experience.
A couple years ago, EDTV wasn’t such a big drawback because only a small percentage of media content was even capable of being shown in HDTV resolution format. However, today you will find that about 75% of the media out there is in HDTV format and it’s only going to increase going forward. For me personally, it just didn’t make sense to get this big, state of the art TV, and not be able to get the Hi Def viewing experiences. I don’t care if it costs more, to me, EDTV would be a penny wise and pound foolish choice!
2a. HDTV: 720 vs 1080
Ok, so I knew that EDTV wasn’t for me and that I had to have HDTV, but there are two versions of HDTV out there to choose from; 720 resolution and 1080 resolution. Naturally I thought 1080 would be the way to go (bigger is better right?!) since it is capable of 1920x1080 resolution (the highest currently available). But not so fast, 1080i is interlaced format: The TV paints every other line of the image in alternating patterns, so it cannot display progressive-scan DVDs. Also, some critics claim that while still images are more brilliant at 1080i, movement doesn't read well on the screen.
720p is the most common HDTV format and only the most discerning of videophiles can tell a difference in quality. And since it is a progressive-scan format (the TV paints every line of the image in order), it can be used for both standard and progressive-scan DVDs.
So, 720 resolution should be just fine most everyone, it definitely was for me.
3. Tuner(s):
Many of the Flat Panel TV’s on the market don’t come with a tuner built in and thus, are less expensive than their counterparts that do have a tuner. A tuner is what decodes the incoming signal so that it can be viewed on your TV screen. No tuner means no TV! Standard TV signals (called ATSC) and HDTV signals require different tuners, so if you want to watch Hi Def you need a both an ATSC and a separate HDTV tuner. For you newbie’s (like me) that are scratching your head wondering what good is TV that isn’t capable of displaying TV shows, it’s actually pretty simple. Your cable box can function as the tuner for you. And if you have Digital Cable, your cable box can serve as both your ATSC and an HDTV tuner. You can also purchase a stand alone tuner called a Set Top Box.
So, getting a Flat Panel TV w/out a tuner isn’t all that uncommon, and it can definitely save you a few bucks by going with a tuner less model. You’ll also see many TV’s listed as “HDTV Ready” which means they have the ATSC tuner built in, but do not have the HDTV tuner built in.
The Olevia has both the ATSC and the HDTV tuners built in. Personally, I think it was worth the extra money to have them both built in. I like the “no fuss” and hassle free approach to my electronics. I want to just plug it in and know it’s going to get the job done!
OK, Now Let’s Review The Olevia:
After much ado, I finally concluded that I wanted the following core features in my TV: LCD display, HDTV, built in tuners for ATSC and HDTV, and 720 resolution would be fine, and Picture in Picture (PIP) was a must have too.
Ok, so I narrow my search down to models with all the above features and start comparison shopping on them. Initially, I focus on the recognizable Manufacturers such as Panasonic, Sharp, Sony, Toshiba, Samsung, (amongst others) – they all have several models on the market in this size range. However, these were all on the higher end of the price scale, often double the costs of others of the same size and features (ie..the Olevia). So just for kicks I started to analyze all of the stats of the Olevia to these higher priced models to see if there is any justification for the price differential. Here are the basics stats on the Olevia:
To my surprise, the Olevia’s stats were virtually identical, if not better, than the Panasonic’s, Sony’s and others. But the cost of the Olevia was HALF of what these others were!! I’m guessing it the huge price difference is attributable to name recognition. But I’m not one to fork over twice the price just to get a different logo on the front!
After 7 months of daily viewing I couldn’t be happier with my Olevia! The picture has always been sharp and crystal clear and the black levels have been just fine. DVD quality has been superb. HiDef viewing experience is simply amazing, especially sporting events. I’ve not had any hardware integrity issues and nothing has fallen apart or broken on me. It has ample input and output jacks, the speakers are much better than I had ever anticipated for built in speakers. The speakers do not detach but that is fine with me, I don’t need to have detachable speakers.
The Olevia is truly the best bang for the buck on the market for a 37’’ flat panel tv. It has all the features, bells, whistles and statistics of any other model in its class, but carries half the price tag of most others. I paid $1300 (including shipping) almost 8 months ago, but you can pick one up for around $1000 now. An equivalent Panasonic is going for over $2500!! I honestly feel that my homework and research paid off in spades and I walked away with the best value for my money by getting the Olevia.
For those of you looking at 42’’, you might want to consider 37’’ models because the leap to 42’’ will raise the price by 40%. That’s a decent jump in price for only a 15% bigger viewing size.
To be 100% fair, there are some minor gripes:
Two features that I did not even consider initially, but now semi-wish I had, are a sleep timer and built in slots for an SD Card (or other digital media). The Olevia doesn’t have them. I can connect SD media through a cable but it would be cool to drop a card right in to the TV. The remote is on the cheap side and the infrared on the remote isn’t that strong, you need to be reasonably close and pointing the remote directly at the TV. It’s a minor pain at times but not a huge issue.
Appendix: Plasma vs. LCD considerations: Ghosting and Burn In: With plasma displays, static images (such as a TV Station logo like CNN that are always displayed on the channel) can become etched into the glass screen, either temporarily (ghosting) or permanently (burn-in). Plasma manufacturers have taken strides to reduce the effects of ghosting and burn in, but the element of risk is still present. LCD does not have any risk of burn in or ghosting.
Weight: Plasma TV’s are roughly twice as heavy as an equivalent sized LCD (110 lbs for a 42’’ Plasma, 57 lbs for a 42’’ LCD).
Durability: Plasmas are very fragile. The millions of gas cells inside a plasma display can be damaged easily; just tipping a Plasma TV may damage the gas cells. Because of their fragile nature, plasma’s require special shipping carriers and are considerably more expensive to ship. LCD’s however, are quite durable. Wall mounting of a plasma will require professional installation and a very sturdy wall capable of supporting this amount of weight.
Portability: Because of their weight and durability concerns, plasmas are typically less portable than LCD’s.
Power Consumption: LCD uses florescent backlighting to produce images; Plasma uses electricity to light each and every pixel on the screen. Plasma will consume more than twice the electricity as an LCD.
Brightness & Contrast: Plasma has higher brightness and contrast levels than LCD and can create deeper blacks. In rooms with low lighting, Plasma displays may appear richer than LCD, where as in rooms with better lighting, LCD display will appear richer.
Resolution: LCD displays will have a higher resolution per same size comparison than plasma. You can get 1366 X 768 resolution on a 40’’ LCD, but you will need a 50’’ Plasma to get this same resolution.
Viewing Angle: LCD’s have a 175 degree viewing angle, Plasma’s are 160 degrees
Video Games and Computer Monitor: The number of pixels per square inch on an LCD display is higher than other plasma, so LCD monitors are especially good at displaying video games and for use with a personal computer.
Longevity: The phosphoric elements in plasma displays fade over time. Plasma has a half life of 30,000-45,000 hours. LCD display does not degenerate over time.
Price: LCD’s are newer technology and are typically higher priced than equivalent sized plasma. However, this price gap is shrinking considerably and rapidly.
Size: LCD’s can range in size from 13’’ to 45’’ and Plasma’s range from low 32 inches to 65 inches (Sony even has a 100’’ display in the works!). So if you are looking for a small bedroom TV then LCD is going to be your primary choice. In the mid range space (30’s to 40’s) you will have plenty of choices with either LCD or Plasma. If you want one of those mammoth TV’s (57’’+) your choices will be limited to Plasma.
Altitude: The gas cells inside plasma TV’s are adversely affected by high altitudes. If you live in a high altitude place (such as Denver) you may need to purchase a plasma that is specifically designed for high-altitudes, but they may be priced higher than standard models. LCD’s are not at all affected by high altitudes.
Hd Builtin Hdtv Tuner Included As Long As You Receive An Hd Signal Youre Ready To Watch Highdefinition Programming Video Gaming And Movies. Features S...More at Target
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.