Thanks for the tips redline.
Last Monday, I went to Anson's, Makati branch and tested every 40" BASIC LED TV of my preferred brands on display that are currently ON PROMO SALE. I'll have to agree, Toshiba 40L2400VP wins out in terms of picture and sound quality among all the models I tested... darks are good, brights are little washed out on some of the picture modes though, not color blind on some shades of red and grey, not so good UI, and lastly, sound quality is really superb! I was only turned off by the limited number of connections you can make with the Tosh - 1 HDMI, 1 A/V composite, 1 USB, no component out, no audio out, and no headset out as well. If the speakers in this unit get busted (and eventually they will), I'll be watching silent movies until I bring it to the repairman or route the audio signal from a different source connected to the Tosh (say from a PS3 or any other media device w/ audio out connections, etc.)
I also tested the Samsung 40" forgot the model# (color blind on some shades of red, washed out whites, poor SQ), Phillips 40" forgot the model# (color blind on some shades of red as well, poor sound, and poor UI), Sharp LC-40LE265M (washed out whites, poor SQ, poor UI), Preztiz 40" forgot the model (poor UI, color blind on some shades of red, washed out whites, poor SQ). I also tested the LG 42LB552A (overall good PQ, a little washed out whites, fair SQ, good UI, but not within my budget haha.)
Lastly, I tested the Sony KLV40R352B (overall good PQ as expected from Sony, not good darks as the Tosh's, a little washed out whites on some picture modes, good UI, good SQ though not as superb as Tosh). Also, I think this has only 60Hz native refresh rate whereas the Tosh has 120Hz native refresh rate if I'm not mistaken.
Now, I'm leaning towards the Sony KLV40R352B simply because of the connections I can make with it - 2 HDMI (one w/ ARC technology), 2 other video connection, 1 USB, 2 audio outs, and 1 headphones out, and of course the overall stunningly good-looking PQ when I tested Ender's Game on 1080p with this unit (I also tested the same title with Tosh, and it's also stunningly good-looking.) The gripes I have with this unit are - it does not come with a free wall bracket or any other freebie of some sort, it was not able to read a video file format when the Tosh was able to read that same video file (The Lone Survivor 1080p .x264 file format - funny yung Ender's Game is also in .x264 format but Sony was able to read it. Yung Lone Survivor hindi binasa, labo.)
The Sony costs P19,800 from S&S while the Tosh costs P17,800. Though the Tosh is really the "bang for your buck" 40 basic LED TV, I think I'm gonna give my money to Sony simply because of the myriad of devices I can connect to it, and the headphones out will really be beneficial for me specially during night time viewing when my baby daughter and the wifey are both asleep. Although darks of the Sony are not as good as the Tosh, the overall PQ is still quite stunning and crisp as expected from a brand like Sony. I'm excited to get this unit by the end of Nov from S&S! Can't wait to watch movies and play PS3/PS4 with this baby!
Sorry for a rather lengthy reply. One last question - may nabibili ba na universal wall bracket for the Sony KLV40R352B LED TV? =) Thanks sa lahat ng sasagot and sa mga nagbabasa netong thread na to. =) God bless.
