Category: HDTV Reviews

Reviews for newest HDTVs.

A Step Up from the 8000 Series: Samsung UNF9000 Series

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The Samsung UNF9000 is a 4K TV at a smaller price than their UNS series. Its TV remote is one of the touch-pad clicker models distributed with the Samsung high-end TVs. The TV itself is nice looking, but it does have some drawbacks. The curved base must be situated on a table or stand as wide as it is, or else the TV risks collapse. The thin bezel is silver and very minimalistic, matching the base.

These 4K TVs are future-proof. This means that it can be upgraded, normally for a small price. The One Connect upgrade box attaches to the back of the TV, and a new one could be added in the future, adding more features to the TV. The remote is small, and it features a touch pad. It fits well in the hand, and the Bluetooth technology works wonders. It’s incredibly accurate and nimble, allowing easy navigation of the menus.

Pros:

  • Excellent picture quality and great black levels
  • Accurate color
  • Great video processing
  • Upgradable One Connect box
  • Active 3D technology and four 3D glasses
  • Excellent remote
  • Smart TV, voice and gesture control

Cons:

  • Expensive at $4,000
  • Does not have better features or picture than a high-end LCD/LED HDTV
  • Wide stand
  • Far too little 4K content

Bottom Line:

If you must have a 4K HDTV, this one costs far less than others do. However, it is still expensive compared to LED/LCD models. It does offer a great set of features, but very similar ones to the 8000 series.

For more information on TVs and their great remotes, contact us at Replacement Remotes.

The Philips Elevation

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The Philips Elevation is an HDTV with an interesting set of features and a very different TV remote from others. The television offers a backlighting ability that can change colors of LEDs facing the wall to match the colors on the TV screen. The Elevation can control numerous LEDs within close range, too, such as lamps and such. It leaves an interesting effect in a room for those watching TV, but may not be desired by all HDTV enthusiasts.

The remote looks like a standard remote control, but it offers a hidden keypad on the back. This keypad can be used with the Smart TV and Internet browsing capabilities. However, it seems a little like overkill, and the buttons are crowded together. The mouse can also be used as a pointer. The TV is very slim, with an equally slim bezel. Devices using the same Wi-Fi connection can have their screens mirrored for easy video viewing.

Pros:

  • Ultra slim model
  • Clear stand
  • Control the TV with an app
  • Excellent picture quality
  • Cast picture from devices to screen
  • 900Hz motion rate for excellent motion sharpness
  • Remote with many features

Cons:

  • Price is still a little high at $5,000
  • Features are little like overkill
  • The lighting feature may annoy some customers

Bottom Line:

This is a great TV with excellent features for the money. Many of the features are only offered on this TV and not on others. The Elevation offers a full range of Smart TV apps easily accessible with the pointer remote. Skype is also a native program on the TV, with the remote’s keyboard being handy for chatting.

Replacement Remotes offers a full range of remote controls for televisions and other uses; contact us today with any questions, needs, or comments.

LG OLED 55EA8800: A Truly Flat TV

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The LG OLED EA8800 is one of the first flat OLED TVs, and it offers a high-tech remote control, dubbed the Magic Remote. The TV was showcased at CES 2014 and at the IFA 2013 show in Berlin. The 55-inch comes with a frame, making it look like a painting. It was first released in Europe, and is slowly following in other countries. What makes it unique is the flat screen, because other models have a curved screen, making them somewhat undesirable to some customers.

The Magic Remote has a pointing wheel, similar to a mouse. It can be used to access the menus and to change the settings. You can just point at the screen and click on the mouse-like buttons. The TV also allows gesture and voice control. Share files with the TV using the Smartshare function. It also offers a full range of Smart TV content.

Pros:

  • Voice controls and remote work very well
  • Flat screen OLED TV
  • Energy Star qualification
  • Great audio system
  • Excellent contrast
  • Smartshare allows sharing between devices
  • Theater quality 3D
  • 2D to 3D conversion
  • Skype compatibility

Cons:

  • At just under $9,000, the TV is expensive
  • Only 1080p resolution, no native 4K abilities
  • Not widely available

Bottom Line:

This is an expensive TV with an impressive set of high-tech functions. Since this is the only OLED TV that offers a flat screen, it is worth it to wait for the price to drop some. Once the set drops below $5,000, it would be a worthwhile purchase. At this point in time, it is hard to think of a less expensive TV that offers better features.

For more information on this TV and its remote, contact us at Replacement Remotes.

The 2014 Sharp Aquos Quattron Plus

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This 1080p offering from Sharp is a lot more reasonable in price compared to Samsung’s 4K offering, and it comes in a large size, along with a nifty universal TV remote. For just under $5,000 for the 70-inch, and a little less for the 60-inch, you could have one of your very own. The TV is a Smart TV with active TV technology. In addition to this, the TV is incredibly flat.

It offers up a decent universal remote that allows you to control several different devices with it. Beyond that, the remote is easy to use while scrolling through the apps or when using the web browser. The TV itself looks sleek in the living room and can be wall-mounted, or you can use the stand on an entertainment center. Be wary, as the TV is very heavy and setup takes two people.

Pros:

  • Plays 4K video content
  • Upscales resolution of HD content
  • Low cost for what it offers
  • Smart TV
  • Active 3D technology
  • Great picture quality

Cons:

  • The standard USB are not 2.0, making it slightly outdated
  • Expensive for the average Joe
  • Advertised as a true 4K TV

Bottom Line:

This 1080p TV almost mimics 4K resolution. You won’t be able to tell the difference at all. It does offer many more pixels than most TVs and a very large amount of sub-pixels. What this means for you is a better picture at a lot lower cost than a full 4K resolution TV.

For more information about TVs, remotes, and future technology, contact us at Replacement Remotes.

The Outrageous Samsung UNS9 Series

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TVs and remotes like this just don’t come along very often. The UNS9 series is outrageous and huge. It’s the new 85-inch 4K Ultra HDTV from Samsung. This TV carries the latest technology — but at a cost — $40,000. Not for the average Joe, this TV is a staple for the ultra-rich. As of the moment, it is one of the few 4K TVs on the market.

The TV has an unusual look, with an artist-easel-type stand. On it, the TV can pivot up or down. It looks different from the average television, and the stand makes it look larger. One bit of good news is that this TV has the new OneConnect box. This box allows for easy repair of the TV, just by replacing the box. It offers a great picture for the money and has full Smart TV features.

The TV has the new Smart Touch Remote. It is a sleek, silver remote with a touch pad in the center. The remote contains a microphone, which allows you to communicate with the TV. Yes, you can talk to this new television. Its voice control is pretty good, allowing you to navigate apps.

Pros:

  • Great, deep blacks and no issues with deep black and white
  • Still images look great
  • LED backlighting
  • Excellent app selection
  • Smart TV

Cons:

  • Price
  • Some color inconsistency

Bottom Line:

If you have the money sitting around, buy this TV. For all the average Joes out there, wait for other new 4K TVs to come out. Regardless, though, this is one heck of a television.

For more information on TVs and their great remotes, contact Replacement Remotes.

Newest Smart TV: The Sony KDL

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Sony’s newest Smart TVs come from the KDL series, which, along with their wedge shapes and two remotes, are a curiosity. An expensive one, at that. This new series of TVs are large and in charge with pricing upwards of $2,200 for a 55+ inch TV. However, even with the high price and strange design, Sony’s got something right.

This TV series offers an amazing picture for the price point, and almost no issues with picture quality. It performs well in a bright room, an issue that many plasma and LCD TVs have. The sound quality also hits high marks. The TV is strange, as it is wedge shaped, with the top being much thinner than the bottom. When looking at it from the front, you can’t tell. From the sides, the shape is blatantly different.

The TV remote is similar to other Sonys from last year. It offers a pleasing color array of buttons. All buttons were easy to press one-handed, and they were clearly marked. A new key was added allowing you to pull up thumbnails of videos and TV shows. The second remote is a touchpad clicker, which is optional.

Pros:

  • Great picture quality
  • Deep black levels and great bright-room image
  • Excellent video processing
  • Excellent sound
  • Great features within the Smart TV apps

Cons:

  • Expensive
  • Poor 3D quality

Bottom Line:

If you just aren’t that into a 3D picture and have the money, this TV is worth it. The picture is better than most LCDs that are the same size.

To find out more, contact us at Replacement Remotes.

The Streaming Stick: Streaming TV with a Small Footprint

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For such a small streaming stick, it sure has a large TV remote. All joking aside, the Roku Streaming Stick offers something new and different to the world of streaming TV. This compact device is very small, similar in size to a USB flash drive. It connects to an HDMI port on the back of the TV, making the Roku stick invisible. However, some users report that they have to use an HDMI adapter with the Roku Stick.

The stick retails for $50, $15 more than the Chromecast, manufactured by Google. One of the main differences includes the remote, a better interface, and over 1,200 apps to choose from. The remote is the same one offered with the other Roku devices – simple, yet effective. However, users do question the included Blockbuster shortcut button.

Pros:

  • 1,200 apps to keep you busy
  • Compact, takes up no space
  • Has a great interface
  • Has a real remote, and a remote app for the smartphone
  • Great performance in apps
  • Smartphone control

Cons:

  • Some apps load very slowly
  • Remote lacks popular features from previous Roku boxes, such as the headphone jack
  • The Roku Stick requires power, through a USB port or power adapter, leading to cord clutter
  • Does not work with universal remotes

Bottom Line:

Considering the price of the Roku Stick and what you get with it, the price is worth it. The streaming device does far more good things versus the drawbacks. Even many of the drawbacks are nit-picky, other than the speed issue.

For more information about devices and remotes, contact us at Replacement Remotes.

Sony STR-DN840: The Best Low-Budget AV Receiver

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With a remote that challenges most remotes for AV receivers and TVs, the Sony STR-DN840 offers a lot for less than $450. If you can look over how clunky this receiver is, you will see a great value with a great brand name. This device hits all marks when it comes to price, performance and features.

This AV receiver offers wireless features that some of the competitors just cannot match. It comes with standard built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and AirPlay. No other receivers offer all three of these abilities at this price. Use your smart phone in place of the remote to turn the device on and select inputs. More advanced features and settings still require the button-packed remote. It does sit nicely in the hand, but many of the additional buttons just are not needed. Remember, less is sometimes more.

Pros:

  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • Many streaming options
  • Six HDMI inputs
  • Great value for the price
  • Three digital audio inputs
  • DLNA compliant, supporting streaming services
  • 7.2 channel receiver

Cons:

  • Remote is too busy with all the buttons and functions
  • No MHL inputs
  • Sound quality is not as good as others
  • Device is bulky

Bottom Line:

If you can get past the large, bulky box, this AV receiver is the best value you will find for the price. It offers every feature you could ask for and great wireless connectivity. Many features included are only available at price points over $600. This makes it a great buy from a great electronics manufacturer.

For more information about remotes and their devices, contact us at Replacement Remotes.

Try Out the Marantz NR1403 for Simple Surround Sound

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When you think of surround sound systems, you might not consider their remote controls. However, this one component is as important as the features of the audio receiver itself. For a basic audio receiver, the Marantz hits high marks for its ease of use, great remote and low price.

This device is purely no frills, as it does not have advanced features, such as Wi-Fi or smartphone control. With the lack of features, it does make up for it with six HDMI ports and excellent sound quality. The thin profile of the device makes it valuable for saving space in your entertainment center.

Pros:

  • Low-profile
  • Many HDMI ports
  • Excellent sound quality comparable to big budget systems
  • Remote offers all critical buttons without too many extras that are not needed
  • 5.1 channel receiver
  • Three year warranty

Cons:

  • Few features
  • No Wi-Fi or Ethernet
  • No Bluetooth
  • No video inputs
  • No analog video up-conversion

Bottom Line:

Most of the downsides of this device are features that most people would not use or find useful. For the low price point of under $400, there is not much more you can get in an audio receiver. The six HDMI ports alone make this device worth it, as most competitors only offer four. Many audiophiles will rejoice over the fact that this device is not as clunky as others are, and it has a pleasant, minimalistic design. If you are looking for a device with streaming, try something else with internet connectivity and a good interface, such as Apple TV.

For more information on universal remotes for your audio devices, contact us at Replacement Remotes.

roku lt

Streaming on a Budget: The Roku LT

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Who would think such small purple boxes and their remotes could take the country by storm? The Roku box sure did. This small device is one of the most popular streaming media devices that there is. It offers more apps than Apple TV and costs just half the price, which makes the Roku LT very appealing.

Roku offers 1,000 channels, including the very popular Netflix, Vudu, HBO Go, Amazon, Hulu, and several sports options. Video output is limited to 720p, but it’s hard to notice. The Roku LT is a small streaming player and is very purple. However, given its size, no one is likely to notice it on the entertainment center.

The factory remote is small, but handy. It has few buttons, but what buttons are there really complement the device. It offers a home and back button at the top, a directional pad, playback buttons, and four dedicated channel buttons. The direct access to Netflix and Amazon Instant are very nice to have.

Pros:

  • 1,000 supported channels
  • Cross-platform search
  • Great little remote
  • Small footprint
  • Small price

Cons:

  • No YouTube channel
  • Some channels have outdated interfaces
  • 720p streaming content

Bottom Line:

If you want a streaming device for a low price, this one hits all the right marks. It offers more than the Chromecast, and nothing else at the price point can beat it. Even without YouTube, this Roku box is worth every penny. As with any streaming device, many channels/apps require subscriptions. However, this cost pales in comparison to the cost of cable.

For more information or to purchase ROKU remotes.