Customer Reviews

Astar LTV-3001 30-Inch LCD Flat Panel HD-Ready TV

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you've decided on an LCD HDTV, this unit has a cool design and no evident shortcomings to explain its low price. The disadvantages of this unit are similar to those of LCD TVs in general -- black levels are not as good as CRT, plasma, or some projection TVs. Fine details in dark scenes can be washed out in a field of dark gray. At the lowest brightness and backlight levels (which are separately controllable), true black can still not be obtained (and at those settings other scenes will be too dark). Bright scenes, however, look fantastic with excellent detail and color reproduction. For most viewers, the black level issue should be only an occasional annoyance, if that.

Screen proportions can also be changed easily with a button on the remote, allowing you to optimize screen fill for standard vs. HD broadcasts, or wide-screen vs. standard-view DVDs. The design of this unit is unique and pretty cool. The speakers are mounted on a glass plate that surrounds the base unit. The unit also has a removable steel plate on the back that can be used to do a simple flush wall-mount (it's not a swiveling or adjustable wall mount unit, like those often sold separately).

In five years, improved flat screen display technologies will probably make you want to replace this unit and move it to a bedroom. But for those who want an HDTV today, this unit offers an excellent combination of quality and price.

I purchased this TV April 2006, I had no problems until December of 2006. The TV would lose its picture and sound almost every day. I contacted the manufacturer, they said the TV was still covered under warranty. They told me to bring it to one of their authorized repair shops, the only one was over 30 miles away, I asked if I could ship it back to the manufacturer, and was told no. My TV has been in the shop for over 3 months, ASTAR keeps sending the wrong parts to the repair shop, and will not provide them with any support. I contact ASTAR weekly to find out what they are doing about my TV, I just get the run around. ASTAR has made no effort to back their product. Their customer service department seems non-existent.

I recommend buying a brand name product... and so did the TV repair shop!!

I just got done reading some reviews of this Astar television and figured I would do it a bit of justice due to the sick-to-my-stomach feeling.
Has anyone ever heard of Astar? Then don't buy it. I'm not trying to talk the big companies up and muscle-out the little guys, but this isn't a little guy. This company is foreign, and the internal workings of this unit are garbage.
Technically it is not really a television because it lacks the hardware necessary to call it that. Obviously it is an LCD monitor, with some major defects. The main problem I'm having is with the power board. Not only is it poor quality work and materials, but if it breaks you have the luxury of throwing your set away and buying new from someone else because your set is unrepairable. Not a situation anyone likes to be put in.
Other people who reviewed this product talked about its superior imaging and visualization. Someone needs to explain to them what a 1200:1 contrast ratio is. Sharp is boasting over 1000000:1 now. Ya, a little extra goes a long way.

One point of advice, don't consider this product. Its not worth the time or the headache. Spend the extra money to get a name you've heard of, or purchase an extended warranty.

purchased i beleave it was winter of 2005 great tv picture and sound with no problems sad to say until now have the same exact problem t.boon explained in there review was sitting back thinking oh this is a beutiful picture must have been on its way out sure enough placed in shop today sure hope unlike the unfortunate soul who repair shop could not get parts my shop will and i will enjoy five more years

I bought this tv elsewhere for a cheaper price, but just had to come and give it a good review. The only thing about the cheap price is the low black quality but really it doesn't make a huge difference. It's qualitly is excellent and the tv itself is just beautiful.

REVIEW UPDATE!

Below is my original review for this TV. However in January of 2010, the power supply board on this TV died just like 2 other reviewers mentioned below. The capacitors overheated and burst, and since the company went out of business you cannot buy new power supply boards.

To fix it was relatively easy, if you are comfortable soldering that is. I removed the board, which was simple ennough, de-soldered and removed ALL of the capacitors (even the good ones), and replaced them. All told it was a $40 fix and the TV has been working fine for a year now. Still, if you are buying this TV used, beware...

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I managed to find this TV for less than $700, and while it is certainly not as good as a $1500+ Aquos LCD TV, I don't think it's worth the $800 price difference. Like the previous revewer said, I cannot see any particular reason this is so cheap, it is built sturdy, and has all the typical inputs and features of other LCD TV's of this size.

The only problem I have see nso far, is that black levels are not good on this , even for an LCD TV (I have 2 other LCD TV's so I have a good basis for comparison here). Although proper tuning of the settings does alleviate this somewhat (mostly with the gamma corrections setting, plus for me, making it a little BRIGHTER seemed to help).

Also, if you leave the backlight switch on, but not the TV itself, there is a small whine that can be heard. It's close to inaudible, just sound sound of the TV on at mute drowns it out (it's very, very soft), but I suppose it could be annoying to some. My simple solution, turn the backlight switch off when you are done watching it (which you are supposed to do anyway).