VSIS-EU Cable TV Ground Loop Isolator Review

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(More customer reviews)This story, like many others on this board, have striking similarities to each other.1. I buy an expensive new media center toy...
2. I experience buzzing from my speakers with the new device installed...
3. Call the cable company after tracing the buzzing sound to a poorly grounded CATV line (house is properly grounded too)...
4. Cable guy comes out and finds no problem even though he can hear the buzz as I plug in and unplug the coax...
5. Cable guy says TV has to be up pretty loud to hear buzzing, blames problem on TV...
6. I go into GTFO of my house mode... (important step)
7. Buy Viewsonics VSIS-EU CATV Ground Loop Isolator...
8. Plug in isolator...problem solved...no more buzz....
9. Post wonderful review for this product, immediately...

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When two or more devices are connected to a common ground through different paths, ground path noise or a ground loop can occur. This is actually quite common in home theater systems, even those that are well designed. The result of a ground loop is audio hum and/or horizontal bars in the TV picture. Disconnecting coaxial connections between components eliminates the hum or interference. If "beefing up" conventional ground connections and establishing solid ground points in your cable system does not resolve these problems, then a CableTVamps Ground Isolator is the most reliable way to fix it.

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Toshiba REGZA 46XV645U 46-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV, Black Review

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(More customer reviews)I had been looking at and researching HDTVs for a while and had pretty much decided on going with a plasma, due to the better viewing angle and deeper blacks. I was a bit hesitant, though, about picking up a plasma because of all the "burn-in" horror stories that have piled up over the years, so I was still hoping to find an LCD display that would blow me away while still being affordable. When I came across this Toshiba, it appeared that this would be that LCD. I made several trips to the big box whose logo looks like a big yellow tag and spent close to an hour each time comparing a few different models as best as one can in the controlled lighting of the retail environment. I was impressed with the black level, overall contrast, and picture quality of this tv. The image also appeared to be cleaner than others, with very few jaggies or digital artifacts.
I ended up purchasing this tv (great deal with the free 19") and taking it home. The screen size is plenty large enough to see clearly from 10 ft away, but not too bulky to carry inside, unpack and set up by myself . It looks great and feels sturdy. The light-up Toshiba logo is a pretty nice touch, but I set it to off since it's a little distracting. There are a TON of picture adjustments available through a few standard and advanced menu options. A lot of these options are probably only available on most other sets through service menus, which are meant to be navigated by professional calibrating services. I spent the first five hours of Saturday and a few more on Sunday tweaking the picture while watching blu-rays, with my main attention on getting a good, dark black level and accurate skin tones. I got the settings dialed in to what pleases my eye and thought it looked darn good (maybe not a professional calibration, but I was very pleased with it). The sound was not as bad as I've read in some reviews. I never experienced the crackling that others have, but I also never needed to turn the volume up past 30, even sitting 10 ft away. So far, everything was great but naturally, with the good, you get the bad.
The drawbacks that I experienced were more personal annoyances, I suppose, but I've read that they are inherent to LCDs (to varying degrees), and I still could not ignore them after I discovered them. The first of which is the limited viewing angle. After the hours of tweaking, the set looks incredible when viewed head on. This changed, though, when I stood up or watched as I walked around the room. The black areas turn bluish and the overall picture loses its pop. This was the case if I viewed from any other angle than sitting on the couch directly in front of it. Granted, that's where I plan on watching tv from, but if I wanted to watch from the kitchen or have guests over, it wouldn't be as enjoyable. I was kinda disappointed because I had not experienced this in the store. It's not horrible, just something I didn't like. Also, it may have been exaggerated by how good the picture looks head on. The off angle picture may be as good as last year's model, but by improving the head on picture, it doesn't look as good from the sides. Who knows. I'm also coming from decades of watching CRTs where the viewing angle does not change. I knew to watch out for this with LCDs, but I guess you just can't get away from it unless you spend a few grand on one.
My other gripe was with the uneven backlight, or cloudiness, in dark areas, especially along the top and coming from the top corners ("flashlight" effect). Before purchasing this tv, I had found only one account of this occurring with this Toshiba. I had actually forgotten about it and wasn't looking for it when I noticed it myself. I didn't notice it until nighttime when I had the lights dimmed and the screen was supposed to be black. It's more apparent while performing non-viewing actions, such as switching inputs, changing channels, etc., but it is noticeable at certain times while watching movies. I didn't notice this during the day but, again, just something I didn't like. It's also possible I received a faulty display.
All in all, this is a great LCD for the price. I couldn't find one in-store in the same price point that came close. Great picture, super sharp, and lots and lots of picture tweaking options. I didn't have the chance to take home any other LCDs to see if they had the same low viewing angle properties or uneven backlight that mine did, so I don't know if this Toshiba is an exception or not. I did end up exchanging it for a plasma, though, because I felt they suit my tastes better (and it turns out that burn-in is not a huge issue anymore), but for those looking for an LCD and looking to spend $1200, I would highly suggest taking a look at this one.

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The XV645 series combines the REGZA® Engine (PixelPure® 5G & Resolution+™) with ClearFrame™120Hz for superior picture quality, and adds the bottom Deep Lagoon™ design for an appearance that also stands out from the pack.

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Samsung PN50B860 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV Review

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(More customer reviews)Well, I did not buy this TV from Amazon but found an authorized online retailer that had a fantastic price with free shipping. Let me tell you, I researched televisions for about three months straight. I had been debating between the Samsung LN52B750 LCD, which had a razor sharp picture and at the time was priced right. Aesthetically, it was a beautiful television in just about every way. My biggest hang up was that certain movies and shows looked too realistic (distracting) and not movie like, especially when watching animated films or TV shows and even with the 240Mhz refresh rate for motion, the motion in fast scenes felt a bit off or distracting. The picture was/is extremely bright and the features hit the sweet spot.
I had also been comparing the LN52B750 with several different plasma televisions, mostly from Samsung, several Panasonic Plasmas that were/are highly rated from several review websites and the Pioneer Kuro Plasmas. So, I read all of the reviews I could find on about 10 televisions total that were highly rated or new to the market for 2009. My buddy has the 50" Pioneer Elite Kuro PRO-111FD which I might add, has a beautiful picture! It is almost unmatched. Then I went to BestBuy and directly compared several lower model number Samsung plasmas and LCDs and the Panasonic TC-P50G10 50" plasma. I honestly do not see what the big deal about the TC-P50G10 TV is. The picture is okay, it even looked okay playing a Blu-ray movie, but I was not impressed. The picture was a bit green, the casing of the TV was not the most eye pleasing design and that huge Panasonic logo on the front "chin" with a grey back ground was not appealing to me. I also compared several LG Plasmas and LCD TV's for 2009 and the new Toshiba Regzas (nice picture for the price I have to admit).
Ultimately, it came down to comparing the Pioneer Elite Kuro PRO-111FD to the Samsung PN50B850 (which has one feature less than the PN50B860 Samsung, as no one had a PN50B860 on display that I could find) and was amazed at how awesome the picture detail, flesh tones, natural colors, fast motion, contrast, brightness and motion was on the two Plasma televisions. They are very comparable and I consider them dead on as competitors. I ended up choosing the Samsung PN50B860 having seen the PN50B850 in person at BestBuy. The PN50B860 has the Cinema Smooth feature which the PN50B850 does not. I got it for under $2k with free shipping online with the optional 802.11N wireless Samsung Linkstick (WIS09ABGN) for less than $60.
The picture on the Samsung PN50B860 is phenomenal. Not only is the picture on this TV one of the best I've seen after months of extreme research, I got the best price on it and it cost less than the Pioneer and the Samsung LN52B750!!! I've been watching Blu-ray movies on it via my Sony PS3 gaming console for the last few days through HDMI. Movies like Hellboy II and Casino Royale are stunning and unbelievable on this set!!! Motion resolution/rendering is phenomenal. I recommend it over the Pioneer Kuro because I think it is a bit superior in quality (build and picture), features, aesthetic and Energy Star rating. It's SUPER THIN! You would not be sorry for purchasing this set! It's simply stunning. The remote is surprisingly nice as well. I'm not a huge fan of Samsung's remote controls or TV interfaces (Sony and LG rule when it comes to remote control design an TV interfaces) but I'm happy with the one that came with the TV.
Audio is very acceptable in my book on this television. It's not super loud and robust but what television is, but for a small condo or apartment, it's perfect and very usable and enjoyable! The picture from the digital TV tuner for Over-The-Air broadcasts is pretty impressive as well.
Get it! You won't regret it! As for the other review regarding the buzzing...mine does not buzz at all. I'm guessing the person must be at a high altitude or may have received a bad set but this TV is pretty much flawless.
20091223 Update - Well, I have had this television for a while and I've had numerous friends asking for my opinion of televisions. They ask whether they should choose LCD, LED LCD or Plasma. I actually like all three technologies, but I have to admit I still prefer Plasma. This TV puts out a bit of heat I noticed but it is not that big of a deal. I still very much love this television and at it's current price is one of the BEST televisions on the market. Still have never heard a buzzing issue that others have talked about in this forum.
One Cool thing...Get the 802.11n Wireless Adapter. I was on travel for a while, came home and turned the TV on and I received an update notification on the screen from Samsung. I went to Samsung's support website to look for the update and it had not been posted yet. I have to say, I really like this feature of updating firmware automatically over the internet ON my television. I've also downloaded a few Blockbuster video's on this TV over the Adapter and it's a pretty pleasant experience.
In the end...no regrets on buying this TV. It's beautiful, functional, thin and the picture is literally just phenomenal.

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Samsung’s new 8 Series plasma flat panel HDTV represent our finest innovations in design and performance. Samsung’s 8 Series E-Panel technology combined with our Ultra FilterBrightTM Plus technology provides a stunning high contrast picture even in brighter rooms. It’s not just the images on screen that capture your attention – the Ultra Slim cabinet is only 1.2” deep and gives you added versatility with its stylish vibe. The new Medi@2.0 connectivity package offers customizable online content via user-friendly “widgets,” networking capability via the DLNA standard, and playback of your camera and camcorder via USB 2.0. Add 4 advanced HDMI inputs that feature Samsung’s Anynet+ (CEC standard) technology making system control of compatible A/V devices like a Blu-ray player or HTIB system a one-touch operation. If you’re looking for the best Full 1080p performance and advanced connectivity, Samsung’s new 8 series plasma HDTVs are designed with this in mind.

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LG 60PK550 60-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV Review

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(More customer reviews)We needed to replace a 10 year old 55" first generation rear projection Mitsubishi HDTV in our great room. After researching this purchase for months I was ready to purchase a new Panasonic 65" TC-P65S1 plasma. Then I read Panasonic reviews and blogs regarding black level degradation in less than a thousand hours of use. The problem scared me enough I decided to purchase an LG Plasma instead. Also, since our primary TV is a 50" Pioneer Kuro Elite we didn't feel it necessary to buy another high end model.
I first chose the LG 60PK750...however, we don't need wireless internet connectivity so I decided to save some money and buy the 60PK550. Mostly because of the reviews I read here on Amazon.
The TV was delivered by Amazons white glove delivery on the day they promised... as far as the time they originally promised...they were a little late. We give the delivery service Kudos, they did inform during the day that they would be delayed. Upon arrival I examined the TV closely found the display to be perfect and accept delivery of the TV. We've been watching the set for four days...here is the good the bad and the ugly!
The GOOD: My source is a DISH HD receiver, through an HDMI cable. When I first turned on the TV, like other reviews, the picture was just OK. However, after running the setup Wizard and then tweaking all the colors to taste for another 15 minutes the picture and the colors look very nice. Not as good as our Pioneer Elite...but close. When you factor in the price difference we paid for our Pioneer Elite...let me say you will boast about your picture on this LG Plasma. Once the TV is fully burned in, I'm sure the color rendition and picture clarity should satisfy all but the most discerning purists.

The BAD: I was surprised to find that this TV does not automatically detect the broadcast aspect ratio. My Pioneer plasma has this feature. I also have a 25" Hannspree LCD TV that also adjusts the aspect automatically. A TV in this class should have this feature...especially a Plasma that can still have image retention issues if the black side bars aren't adjusted off the screen to another ratio during viewing.
Another bummer is the remote control. It works well enough. Towards the bottom of the remote, there are four colored buttons. They are referenced in the owner's manual as "Programmable". However there isn't any instruction or another mention of those buttons anywhere in the manual.

Now the UGLY: On day two of ownership I noticed two dead or stuck pixels at the top of the screen. They are violet so I don't know what state they are in...except they are always violet. Today is day four and a third pixel died today... about six inches from the other two! I will be talking to Amazon tomorrow. I really like the TV and think with its picture quality it is a very good value for the money. However, my Pioneer plasma is two years old and doesn't have a single dead pixel. This LG plasma TV is now four days old and already I have three dead pixels.
Amazon customer service handled my dead pixel problem in five minutes. Thank God for Amazon, what incredible service. A replacement LG-60PK550 is on the way.
7-18-2010 Replacement LG Plasma arrived two weeks ago, the screen is perfect. Now with over 100 hours on the set, I finally played with the adjustments... WOW I don't think there is a better deal out there when you consider size and picture quality to dollar ratio. The best price I could find on Sony's least expensive 60" LCD TV was $800 more than this LG 60" Plasma. If you need a big bright clear TV with stellar blacks, true bright colors and at all that at over 600Hz, for less than $1,600... look no further, LG has got that TV!

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Whether have an eye for design or a love of fast-action sports, the 60-inch LG 60PK550 1080p Plasma HDTV handles both adeptly. With its Seamless Design and TruSlim Frame, it has looks to turn heads and its 600Hz refresh rate makes it perfect for fast action. Other features include a mega contrast ratio of 3,000,000:1, stereo speakers with 20 watts of power and Dolby Digital decoding, three HDMI ports, and the capability to play MP3 audio files and JPEG photo slideshows from a USB drive.

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Samsung PN63C8000 63-Inch 1080p 3D Plasma HDTV, Black Review

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(More customer reviews)I've had this TV for 3 days now. I'm not going to go into great detail on the picture quality, because other reviews have commented on how good it is. The purpose of this review is to be a data point for a buzzing set. I have the latest firmware, the ferrite cores installed around the power cord, and the tv is sitting away from the wall. It BUZZES, plain and simple. If you're anywhere in front of the TV itself, it can be heard. If you move your head beyond the bezel of the TV, the buzzing goes away almost 100%. I sit 15 feet away and can clearly hear it during low volume. I'm trying to keep the volume loud enough to drown it out, but during quiet scenes I hear it. It's a very high pitched frequency. My parents cannot hear it (56 years old), but I clearly can (27 years old). My girlfriend can hear it but she says it doesn't bother her. It bothers me, to the point where I am not enjoying the TV.
I contacted ABT (one of the sellers listed here on Amazon) and they simply state "all plasmas buzz." While that is true to an extent, they don't buzz like this model. Both of my brother's have plasmas. One is a 58b550 that doesn't buzz like this, the other is a 60" Pioneer Kuro that doesn't buzz like this. I have a Samsung tech coming out soon, but I'm fairly confident on what will be said, either a) it's a normal sound or b) I'll need a complete new panel. I don't want either. I want to return the set and exchange it for the same model with hopefully a newer build date to see if the issue has been addressed. If not I'll move on to a different TV.
If you aren't able to hear extremely high frequency sounds, then you'll fall in love with this TV. If you can hear it, and you have the TV positioned so you sit in front of it at eye level, it will bother you. If you mount it above eye level so that the bottom of the bezel is above your eyes, you will not hear it.
I really wish this set didn't buzz. It's an awesome TV aside from the horrendous noise it emits. It's sleek, attractive, runs cool in comparison to other plasmas, decent black levels, excellent color reproduction, great video processing, but oh man, the buzzing.
I hope this review helps others to make sure beforehand that they can/can't hear this type of buzzing. Hopefully it will save you the headache that I am currently going through.

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Get a true cinematic experience without going to the cinema with a Samsung plasma HDTV. This Samsung PN63C8000, with Mega Dynamic Contrast Ratio makes sure every frame is saturated with dense, rich color. Samsung is also ENERGY STAR compliant so you are assured that your 63 -inch plasma HDTV is helping the environment by using less enery while saving you money.

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Samsung PN63C7000 63-Inch 1080p 3D Plasma HDTV (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I decided on this TV because of the terrific price of it offered by Amazon (compared to Crutchfield an Vanns).
The first delivery was a disaster because the panel was cracked in several places. My other 50in 2010 Samsung had the same issue with the first delivery. So be warned that Samsung is not packing these sets well given their thinness. Another bummer was the set is made in Mexico and not Japan or Korea.
However that has been it. The picture quality is superb in 2D with all sources. Even SD looks good. The speakers are not great on the set but are serviceable.
This TV loves HD sources! You will be amazed. There are four HDMI inputs.
TV is very thin with a dark grey bezel (not the 8000 titanium).
I have not tried 3D yet. Waiting for glasses to lower in price and to get a 3D Blu Ray player.
All plasmas buzz to some degree and volume level. My set buzzes when a show is paused (DVR), but can't be heard otherwise. Some buzz so loud others return is (common plasma problem) - it is a crap shoot.
Important notes:
- make sure to update the sets firmware to the latest version (1025+), this will improve the 2D and 3D.
- break in the set by running a variable signal for 25-50 hours (constantly moving images - no ESPN) this will help reduce Burn in problems
- consider updating the set to C8000 model via the service menu, you will get all the 8000 features for free (like Cinema Smooth)

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Get a true cinematic experience without going to the cinema with a Samsung plasma HDTV. This Samsung PN63C7000, with Mega Dynamic Contrast Ratio makes sure every frame is saturated with dense, rich color. Samsung is also ENERGY STAR compliant so you are assured that your 63 -inch plasma HDTV is helping the environment by using less enery while saving you money.Accessories
2010 LinkStick: Connect wirelessly to a world of digital content from Samsung. The LinkStick wireless LAN adaptor eliminates the hassle and cluttered look of wires. Learn more about the Samsung WIS09ABGN LinkStick Wireless LAN Adapter.
Wall Mount: Picture frame-style mount for simple installation. Mounting hardware included. Learn more about the Samsung WMN1000C Ultra Slim Wall Mount.

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