Who manufactures dependable tv's today?

Used to be when you wanted to buy a good reliable tv you either bought
a Zenith or an RCA, it would last 15 years or better without any
trouble. If you search the internet looking for a good tv manufacturer,
the info is not to be found, all you can find is the trouble consumers
have with a modle here and there (seems like most all of them). It
would seem that along with the junk manufacturers are putting out their
customer support is also non exsistant. My own expeariance over the
past 10 years or so with tv's has been anything but plesant. Panasonic
3 years, Sony 2 1/2 years, Proscan 4 years, now an Advent 2 years.
These tv's ranged in price from $250 (panasonic) to $1500 (proscan), a
total of about $3000 for tv sets or about $300 per year over the past
10 years. It almost seems as if they are programed to burn out in a
short time, why can't they build them as reliable as they were built
back in the 60's and 70's? Is it to get us to go back and buy another?
Well I would not buy any of the above brands again, why should I, they
don't last so if this is the theory they are useing it is not working.
Or is it? It seems these companies all buy the components from a few
sources, put them together then put thier company name on it. So is the
problem the company that manufactures the tv's or is the problem with
the source of the componenets? You would think that with todays
technoligy things would be more reliable, but it appears we have taken
a step backwards in the reliablity department. Big name brands like
RCA, Sony, and others are running on their old reputaion of being long
lasting reliable sets. Now that the Advent has died I have to go shop
for another new tv, problem is which brand? At this point I am
considering going to walmart and not spending over $200 for a tv that
may only last a couple of years, at least this will work out to only
$100 a year. Anyone know of a manufacturer that makes reliable tv's
that last and have good customer support?

ray wrote:
Used to be when you wanted to buy a good reliable tv you either
bought
a Zenith or an RCA, it would last 15 years or better without any
trouble. If you search the internet looking for a good tv
manufacturer,
the info is not to be found, all you can find is the trouble
consumers
have with a modle here and there (seems like most all of them). It
would seem that along with the junk manufacturers are putting out
their
customer support is also non exsistant. My own expeariance over the
past 10 years or so with tv's has been anything but plesant.
Panasonic
3 years, Sony 2 1/2 years, Proscan 4 years, now an Advent 2 years.
These tv's ranged in price from $250 (panasonic) to $1500 (proscan),
a
total of about $3000 for tv sets or about $300 per year over the
past
10 years. It almost seems as if they are programed to burn out in a
short time, why can't they build them as reliable as they were built
back in the 60's and 70's? Is it to get us to go back and buy
another?
Well I would not buy any of the above brands again, why should I,
they
don't last so if this is the theory they are useing it is not
working.
Or is it? It seems these companies all buy the components from a few
sources, put them together then put thier company name on it. So is
the
problem the company that manufactures the tv's or is the problem
with
the source of the componenets? You would think that with todays
technoligy things would be more reliable, but it appears we have
taken
a step backwards in the reliablity department. Big name brands like
RCA, Sony, and others are running on their old reputaion of being
long
lasting reliable sets. Now that the Advent has died I have to go
shop
for another new tv, problem is which brand? At this point I am
considering going to walmart and not spending over $200 for a tv
that
may only last a couple of years, at least this will work out to only
$100 a year. Anyone know of a manufacturer that makes reliable tv's
that last and have good customer support?

Some years back the 'recipe' was changed for electrolytic capacitors to
make them more environmentally 'friendly'. Now they don't last nearly
as long so we throw more of them away. ALSO, the Europeans have
outlawed lead (solder) in their electronics which of course translates
to worldwide. The substitutes have been erratic so far. I'm afraid the
era of 15+ year life electronics is over but I must confess to having
some 'antique' ('79) stereo gear that still kicks butt.

GG

Panasonic 32 inch LCD purchased Feb 2006 - so far no problems
Toshiba 20 inch CRT purchased 1987, early stereo model - still running,
never a problem.
Small RCA in the kitchen about 6 years old.. no problems
Same size RCA, slightly older model than above, one bad component (think it
was an SCR ?)in the power supply about 3 years ago .

Seems like you have had bad luck.

My wife and I bought a 19" Sony Trinitron in 1984 and when we gave it away
in 2003 it was working just as well as the day we bought it. We replaced it
with another Sony model, the Grand Wega LCD 42' widescreen HDTV monitor and
feed it with a tuner, a cable box, a camcorder, a VCR and a cable box.

It is used probably, on average, 3 or 4 hours a day and after 31/2 years is
still going strong with the original bulb.


"ray" wrote in message
ps.com...
Used to be when you wanted to buy a good reliable tv you either bought
a Zenith or an RCA, it would last 15 years or better without any
trouble. If you search the internet looking for a good tv manufacturer,
the info is not to be found, all you can find is the trouble consumers
have with a modle (SIC) here and there (seems like most all of them).
It
would seem that along with the junk manufacturers are putting out their
customer support is also non exsistant .(SIC) My own expeariance (SIC)
over the
past 10 years or so with tv's has been anything but plesant (SIC).
Panasonic
3 years, Sony 2 1/2 years, Proscan 4 years, now an Advent 2 years.
These tv's ranged in price from $250 (panasonic) to $1500 (proscan), a
total of about $3000 for tv sets or about $300 per year over the past
10 years. It almost seems as if they are programed (SIC) to burn out in
a
short time, why can't they build them as reliable (SIC) as they were
built
back in the 60's and 70's? Is it to get us to go back and buy another?
Well I would not buy any of the above brands again, why should I, they
don't last so if this is the theory they are useing it is not working.
Or is it? It seems these companies all buy the components from a few
sources, put them together then put thier (SIC) company name on it. So is
the
problem the company that manufactures the tv's or is the problem with
the source of the componenets (SIC)? You would think that with todays
(SIC)
technoligy (SIC) things would be more reliable, but it appears we have
taken
a step backwards in the reliablity department. Big name brands like
RCA, Sony, and others are running on their old reputaion (SIC) of being
long
lasting reliable sets. Now that the Advent has died I have to go shop
for another new tv, problem is which brand? At this point I am
considering going to walmart (SIC) and not spending over $200 for a tv
that
may only last a couple of years, at least this will work out to only
$100 a year. Anyone know of a manufacturer that makes reliable tv's
that last and have good customer support?

ray wrote:
Used to be when you wanted to buy a good reliable tv you either bought
a Zenith or an RCA, it would last 15 years or better without any
trouble. If you search the internet looking for a good tv manufacturer,
the info is not to be found, all you can find is the trouble consumers
have with a modle here and there (seems like most all of them). It
would seem that along with the junk manufacturers are putting out their
customer support is also non exsistant. My own expeariance over the
past 10 years or so with tv's has been anything but plesant. Panasonic
3 years, Sony 2 1/2 years, Proscan 4 years, now an Advent 2 years.
These tv's ranged in price from $250 (panasonic) to $1500 (proscan), a
total of about $3000 for tv sets or about $300 per year over the past
10 years. It almost seems as if they are programed to burn out in a
short time, why can't they build them as reliable as they were built
back in the 60's and 70's? Is it to get us to go back and buy another?
Well I would not buy any of the above brands again, why should I, they
don't last so if this is the theory they are useing it is not working.
Or is it? It seems these companies all buy the components from a few
sources, put them together then put thier company name on it. So is the
problem the company that manufactures the tv's or is the problem with
the source of the componenets? You would think that with todays
technoligy things would be more reliable, but it appears we have taken
a step backwards in the reliablity department. Big name brands like
RCA, Sony, and others are running on their old reputaion of being long
lasting reliable sets. Now that the Advent has died I have to go shop
for another new tv, problem is which brand? At this point I am
considering going to walmart and not spending over $200 for a tv that
may only last a couple of years, at least this will work out to only
$100 a year. Anyone know of a manufacturer that makes reliable tv's
that last and have good customer support?

It seems to me I recall Consumer reports publishing a chart anytime
they run a tv test which has reliability ratings by brand. They're
always publishing special issues in addtion to their regular ones, so
check out the newstand or your local library's periodicals section.

I think also that manufacturers go through periods where they have
problems, maybe when they shift production from one plant or country to
another. Right now, my primary TV is a Sanyo 32-in 4:3 HDTV (model
HT32744) that I bought at Wal-Mart for a very reasonable $600 (at the
time, it was about the cheapest TV out there with a built in ATSC
tuner). Year and a half later it's still going strong. That's not
very long, because I feel that a TV should last a minimum of 10 years,
but I have had great luck with Sanyo products over the years so I think
this will be a good set.

My bedroom TV is a 19 inch Magnavox 4:3 (model HD1926C422) that was
given to me as a graduation gift in 1994. I took it to college and it
has seen HEAVY, almost abusive use during it's entire 12 year life.
I'm still amazed at how good a picture it has with the $30 DVD player I
put on it. My dad bought the 27 inch version of the same Magnavox and
it's still going strong as his primary TV. So, I would say that if you
found a mid 90's Magnavox at a garage sale for $20 it would be a good
choice. Can't say anything about their current production.

If you aren't interested in the latest and greatest I say buy the
cheapest set you can find. If it lasts, great, if it don't, no big
deal.

-beaumon

"G-squared" wrote in message
ups.com...

Some years back the 'recipe' was changed for electrolytic capacitors to
make them more environmentally 'friendly'. Now they don't last nearly
as long so we throw more of them away. ALSO, the Europeans have
outlawed lead (solder) in their electronics which of course translates
to worldwide. The substitutes have been erratic so far. I'm afraid the
era of 15+ year life electronics is over but I must confess to having
some 'antique' ('79) stereo gear that still kicks butt.

GG

Yes, our European "friends" are intent on rushing back to the halcyon days
of pre-technology, based on the flimsiest shade of green.

"ray" wrote in message
ps.com...
Used to be when you wanted to buy a good reliable tv you either bought
a Zenith or an RCA, it would last 15 years or better without any
trouble. If you search the internet looking for a good tv manufacturer,
the info is not to be found, all you can find is the trouble consumers
have with a modle here and there (seems like most all of them). It
would seem that along with the junk manufacturers are putting out their
customer support is also non exsistant. My own expeariance over the
past 10 years or so with tv's has been anything but plesant. Panasonic
3 years, Sony 2 1/2 years, Proscan 4 years, now an Advent 2 years.
These tv's ranged in price from $250 (panasonic) to $1500 (proscan), a
total of about $3000 for tv sets or about $300 per year over the past
10 years. It almost seems as if they are programed to burn out in a
short time, why can't they build them as reliable as they were built
back in the 60's and 70's? Is it to get us to go back and buy another?
Well I would not buy any of the above brands again, why should I, they
don't last so if this is the theory they are useing it is not working.
Or is it? It seems these companies all buy the components from a few
sources, put them together then put thier company name on it. So is the
problem the company that manufactures the tv's or is the problem with
the source of the componenets? You would think that with todays
technoligy things would be more reliable, but it appears we have taken
a step backwards in the reliablity department. Big name brands like
RCA, Sony, and others are running on their old reputaion of being long
lasting reliable sets. Now that the Advent has died I have to go shop
for another new tv, problem is which brand? At this point I am
considering going to walmart and not spending over $200 for a tv that
may only last a couple of years, at least this will work out to only
$100 a year. Anyone know of a manufacturer that makes reliable tv's
that last and have good customer support?

Consumer's Report, based on reader surveys of actual repairs, has put Sanyo
out in front for many years.

Sony, of course, is near the bottom.

"Cuddly Duddly" wrote in message
. ..
Seems like you have had bad luck.

My wife and I bought a 19" Sony Trinitron in 1984 and when we gave it away
in 2003 it was working just as well as the day we bought it. We replaced
it with another Sony model, the Grand Wega LCD 42' widescreen HDTV monitor
and feed it with a tuner, a cable box, a camcorder, a VCR and a cable box.

It is used probably, on average, 3 or 4 hours a day and after 31/2 years
is still going strong with the original bulb.

I have a similar vintage Sony Trinitron that still works in 2006
although the fine tune knobs show evidence of oxidation.

That said, I would hardly call 3 1/2 years evidence of long term
reliability. When I bought the old Sony I recall reading a consumer
article that said a color TV should last eleven years. Before getting
my 32" LCD I had tried to replace the Sony with a '90s vintage 27"
RCA which proved to be a lemon.

--
Rick Evans
----------------------------------------------------------------
Lat +42° 11' 07"
Lon -71° 04' 35"

"R Sweeney" wrote:


Consumer's Report, based on reader surveys of actual repairs, has put
Sanyo out in front for many years.

Sony, of course, is near the bottom.

You must be reading some "other" Consumer Reports.

According to the reliability standings from their web site, CR puts Sony in
the middle, Philips, RCA & Zenith at the bottom.

In article , "Dan Luke" wrote:

"R Sweeney" wrote:


Consumer's Report, based on reader surveys of actual repairs, has put
Sanyo out in front for many years.

Sony, of course, is near the bottom.

You must be reading some "other" Consumer Reports.

According to the reliability standings from their web site, CR puts Sony in
the middle, Philips, RCA & Zenith at the bottom.


Just checked the Dec CR. On CRT's 30-36", including digital, the
repair freq was 2-7% for TV's bought between 2001-2006. That sounds
pretty reliable. Loest was Sanyo at 2, highest RCA at 7, Sony and
Panny where at 4%.

As to the higher tech sets (LCD, Plasma, micro rear-pro), they still
say insufficient long-term data, but 1-2 yr say 3% repair rate for
LCD/Plasma, 10% for microdisplay, with most brands being
"promising". I think micro-displays are probably mostly bulb
burnouts. Bleeding edge is always a risk.

FWLIW, I had an old 1980-vintage Toshiba that lasted forever
(finally broke at over 20 when I gave it to a friend) and a 1995
Panasonic CRT that is still going strong.