Often, those branded ones like Sony and Samsung have special demo appliances that output HD into their showroom LCDs via HDMI and therefore look best. WHile unbranded ones like Syntax or Matrix are left to the ignorance of sales people to use even composite video RCA cables connected to generic DVD players playing SD DVDs, pirated pa yung iba. So they look their worst.
Yan nga ang problem, rarely are there stores that display these "unbranded" ones with the big-name, branded ones, side-by-side and with the same source material. Yun lang sana ang chance ma-compare talaga fair and square.
But to be honest, I also consider only branded ones when buying, due to several reasons:
1. Reliability - whatever the unbranded ones claim, iba pa rin ang matagal na sa industry, kasi they've gained manufacturing and design expertise throughout the years. It's true na may warranty lahat kahit unbranded, pero i would rather not to have to exercise the warranty at all.
2. Technology - also something that the bigger companies can afford better. Wala pa akong nakitang unbranded na may feature na kahit isa sa mga branded ay wala pa.
3. Design - usually the branded ones are designed at least a bit better. Again the unbranded ones don't usually have design as one of their priorities.
4. User Friendliness - to me, the ease-of-use of the user interface (the menu system, the buttons, the remote, etc) is important, and many unbrandeds just suck at this.
5. Price - yes, i know, branded is always more expensive. But the question is, by how much? Last time I checked, it's not much... with the strong competition nowadays, even the big brands (except Sony, hehe) compete well price-wise with unbranded ones, that I cannot justify buying generic.
But as mentioned earlier, picture quality is something that generics MIGHT deliver as well as, or even better (who knows) than the branded ones. Yun nga lang, it's difficult to have side-by-side comparison in a typical store. A/V specialist stores ang best bet natin, although many of them wouldn't bother with carrying generic types.
