Buying a LCD TV

[bigman]

Originally Posted by mail4ajo

Tanx for this info. The 25K limit, is it on the foreign exchange value or value of the product in india? 400USD is only 17K in rupees. What happens if the product is not available in india and how do they fix the street prices?

Bring an invoice with you. If you cannot find the invoice get a price from a catalogue or store leaflet where the price and model number are clearly stated. You may want to see if an online store (Amazon.com etc) sell the same model, print the page off and bring it with you.

As the item is below the 25K limit you do not even have to declare it, if you are returning to the USA then they may allow you to bring it in on the proviso you take it back on your return. They cannot endorse your passport, but can endorse you ticket. If you are using an eticket and they endorse it then you can just print another copy.

[shuvc]

Originally Posted by VMG

1. LA40R81B Final price 99,000/- LCD

2. PS42C91H Final price 86,000/- Plasma

Both prices look a bit high. The last quote I had got for these two, during the World Cup were - 95 for the LCD, 79 for the 42C plasma.
The 42Q plasma was around 89K. The Q series plasma has better resolution than the C series. You may want to check that out.


@vcash, Samsung 50" Q series plasma was retailing for 1.8L in March-April, but I'm sure one can manage a 10K discount on that.

[mobike008]

Originally Posted by vcash

Just wondering -

How much are 50" Plasmas in India now? Not MSRP but a good 'street' price? Does Panasonic sell them in India - We have a Panasonic one here and I am looking to add a nice TV in India as well?

Also any HD channels at all? I know DTH Sat TV is now being offered through Tatas. Is the quality comparable to US cable and Dish signals on regular channels?

Also if I were to ship a $1500 Plasma to India - what customs duty amount would I be paying?

Thanks!

$1500 for a 50" plasma? If it is then it makes lot of sense to import it to india by paying duties. As according to Shuvc, it is retailing at 1.7L here in india for a samsung and panasonic is much more expensive.

[VMG]

This R81 is the latest one as per the sales guy. Some of the shops like Vivek in Chennai they do not have this model.
What you are talking may be the R71.

[vcash]

Originally Posted by mobike008

$1500 for a 50" plasma? If it is then it makes lot of sense to import it to india by paying duties. As according to Shuvc, it is retailing at 1.7L here in india for a samsung and panasonic is much more expensive.

Yup - Phillips HDTV Plasma is about $1500 - might get that for a second room in our house. We got a Panasonic 50" TH50PX60 for $2200 delivered and installed. And cheaper brands like Olivia, Insignia and Magnavox (Inhouse BestBuy, Walmart etc. brands) are getting super cheap too - just saw a 37" LCD HDTV for $569!!! A nice panasonic 42" LCD would run about $1400.

Thats why it makes more sense to import but I want to know what the exact customs charge is - even if it is 100% + Ship its Rs. 1,55,000 landed for the 50" Phillips Plasma

[VMG]

I have decided to buy a 40' Samsung - LA-40R81B for 99,000 in Chennai.
Would like to hear from somone who bought this model.
Thanks

[RedOne]

I am looking for an LCD TV for the bedroom. Viewing distance is 10 feet straight on and 12-13 feet at an angle. It will be used to watch primarily some late night movies (Dish TV & DVD) and maybe some kid stuff if it is too hot in the family room. It will be connected to one of those Creative/Logitech 5.1 home theater systems as well.

What would the gadget gurus recommend and what would be approx cost?Any shop reccomendations in Chennai?

Thanks,
Red-One.

[akshay1234]

i think a 32inch tv should suit you fine. look at the samsung bordeaux. they are selling at quite a good price nowadays.

[navin]

Originally Posted by RedOne

I am looking for an LCD TV for the bedroom. Viewing distance is 10 feet straight on...

General rules state (for non HD program)

1m distance for every 25cm (10") of TV. So 5m for 50", 4m for a 40", 3m for 30" and so on.

10 feet is about 3m. so 32" is ok. If you are only doing HD viewing you can safely use 1m for every 12-14" (30-35cm) of TV. So on HD material you can use a 40" TV at 10 feet.

[tsk1979]

SAMSUNG's Digital World - LCD TV | LA32R81B
Home store is selling this for around 57K. They have a 365 day low price guarantee.
This has a 8000:1 contrast ration. Worth going for? I saw the demo, the picture quality is impressive. But then demo picture quality is always impressive.

[vid6639]

Always see the picture quality on normal broadcast not the DVD broadcast the demo gives. also see some movie scenes in the dark. That's where most LCD's fail.

That said the R81 series is currently the best VFM. The M series will give better picture quality though.

[tsk1979]

The M series have a lower contrast ration. I heard in LCD TV contrast ration was something which told how black is black.
M Series is shooting out of budget

[vid6639]

Ah I was talking about the M81 with a 15,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio.

What budget yaar. VLSI industry is doing good. By buying these products you are only benefiting your industry.

[tsk1979]

VLSI doing good? VLSI has not done good since the dot com bust.
Those were the days... sigh.
Too bad I was in college then, should have been 5 years older, then I would have not thought about budget you see

[zoombiee]

Check out Panasonic Viera also. They are supposed to be damn good.