I've been in the market for a cheap 19" HDTV lately for my bedroom. I didn't want to spend more than $200 or get a refurbished model for more than $130. Tough, right? Not so. I've discovered a new kid on the block: EQD Corp. They make LCD HDTVs and from what I can tell, good ones too, for less than name brands. Don't let the off-name fool you. Apparently, the company was formed by veteran designers looking to make affordable TVs at reasonable prices. They are based out of California. OK. That's the propaganda. Here's what I have experienced.
I ordered the 19" model from Newegg.com (a reputable online store; TV Link) for $169.99 -- that's with free shipping. The TV arrived in a cute little box. There's no manual in the box, but a) there is a start-up guide and b) the manual can be downloaded as a PDF. So far no problem, though attaching the stand base took a few tries to find the correct direction. The plastic covering the display was a bit of a pain to remove, but it offered great protection, so that's OK. Setup was a breeze, provided you have a decent digital antenna (I make them myself). Now, it's only 720p/1080i, so you don't get the maximum capability of BluRay/FIOS/HD Cable if that's what you want. On the other hand, why connect a BluRay to a 19" -- that's a waste. Also, 720p/1080i is the best you can get for over-the-air HD, so that's also OK. The screen is slightly compressed, since it's 16:10 rather than a 16:9 ratio -- no big deal. The picture quality is fantastic, even with standard definition. Of course, it's hard to screw that up on such a small screen size. So far, this is just as good as any name brand with similar specs, but much lower in price.
Here's where it shines. The program guide displays about 10 entries for each channel. In other words, when you click guide or info to see what you're watching on most TVs, it will display the current program and maybe the next one. This TV displays practically the rest of the day. I have never seen a TV do that. The RCA digital converter boxes for older TVS display a few hours, but nothing this extensive. Another plus is that unlike name brands, this TV comes with a 2-year warranty. That is an industry-leading warranty. Add a 3-year extended warranty via Squaretrade for about $22 (I paid $17 through a 30% off email they happened to send me yesterday). That's a five year warranty.
I am very pleased with this TV and EQD. They appear to sell only to online stores, most likely cutting out the distributorship middleman. That's one way they can sell at lower prices -- plus Newegg.com often runs tremendous specials. Sound familiar? Why are some Precis titles so cheap? |
