TV prices falling despite weaker rupiah<\/p>\n
Doharto J. Simatupang, Contributor, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Though the rupiah has weakened against the U.S. dollar, the
\ndomestic audio-video market has not suffered. In fact, many
\nelectronic gadgets have become cheaper; a market anomaly, indeed!<\/p>\n
The most glaring drop has been seen for 21-inch and 29-inch
\nflat screen televisions. The flat screen TV market seems to be
\nundergoing a very interesting fluctuation. Understandably, this
\nis of interest to the public, especially those planning to buy a
\nflat screen TV.<\/p>\n
In the 21-inch flat screen market, if you are looking for
\nsomething that doesn't cost much you may want to try an Ichiko
\n21M6F (AV stereo), which costs about Rp 950,000. For a more well-
\nknown brand, there is the Samsung Plano CS-21N30MJZ (mono), a new
\nproduct that comes with a very modest design. The price is Rp
\n1,115,000, while its AV-stereo sibling costs Rp 1,250,000!<\/p>\n
The most inexpensive Japanese-made 21-inch flat screen TVs
\ncome from Sanyo. The CG-21MF2 (AV stereo) has been reduced by Rp
\n158,000 to Rp 1,242,000, while the CG-21AF2 costs Rp 1,250,000
\nafter its price was slashed by Rp 20,000.<\/p>\n
Of all the brands competing in the 21-inch flat screen market,
\nSamsung has been the most daring in cutting its prices. Take a
\nlook at a Samsung Plano CS-21S8ML (AV stereo), the price of which
\nhas dropped by Rp 50,000 to Rp 1,430,000. The Plano CS-21K30
\n(full stereo) costs Rp 1,480,000 (from Rp 1,580,000), a Plano CS-
\n21M16 (AV stereo) is Rp 1,380,000 (after being cut by Rp 70,000)
\nand a Plano CS-21A11 (full stereo, DNIe Jr) now sells for Rp
\n1,530,000, a drop of Rp 70,000. The Plano CS-21T20MQ (full
\nstereo, DNIe Jr) has been slashed by Rp 25,000 in price to Rp
\n1,550,000.<\/p>\n
What about LG, Samsung's fellow Korean competitor? The prices
\nof LG flat screen TVs with AV stereo are as follows: an LG
\nFlatron RT-21FB70V costs Rp 1,430,000 (a drop of Rp 70,000) and
\nthe LG Flatron RT-RD-21FC91V sells for Rp 1,570,000.<\/p>\n
If you wish to buy a full-stereo type you can have your choice
\nof the following: an LG Flatron RT21FB70R at Rp 1,575,000 (a drop
\nof Rp 105,000) and an LG Flatron RD-21FC91R at Rp 1,880,000 (a
\nnew product). Should you be interested in an economic money, the
\nLG RT-21FB70M (mono) costs Rp 1,375,000 (a drop of Rp 50,000).<\/p>\n
If you have enough money and are Japanese-brand-minded, you
\ncan buy either a Toshiba or a Sharp. A 51 VF 200 (AV stereo)
\nSharp, for example, is available at Rp 1,4690,000, a 21E-FG1 (AV
\nstereo) Sharp at Rp 1,495,000, a 51ZF500B (full stereo) Sharp and
\na 51ZF288 S (AV stereo, built-in sub-woofer) Sharp at Rp
\n1,800,000.<\/p>\n
If you wish to buy a Sharp TV with Plasma Cluster technology,
\nyour choice must be the 51ZPF200 S (AV stereo), which costs Rp
\n1,575,000 (having been reduced in price by Rp 175,000)!<\/p>\n
A 21SZ5EI (AV stereo) Toshiba costs Rp 1,570,000 (a drop of Rp
\n180,000)! A 21SZ31 (mono) Toshiba costs Rp 1,370,000, a cut of Rp
\n225,000. You can compare these two types of Toshiba television
\nsets with their nearest competitors, a Tau TC21FJ50M Panasonic
\n(full stereo) at Rp 1,770,000 and a TC-21FJ20M (AV stereo)
\nPanasonic at Rp 1,600,000.<\/p>\n
The Wega KV-21HFV100 is the most expensive of the 21-inch flat
\nscreen television. With full stereo and tru surround (SRS), two
\nexternal speakers, an FM tuner and a DVD input terminal, it costs
\nRp 3 million! Interested?<\/p>\n
There are other brands that are no less attractive. You can
\npick up an MX5263RF (AV stereo) Polytron with a built-in VCD
\nplayer for Rp 1,725,000 or an MX5265RF (full stereo) Polytron
\nwith a wireless headphone and a built-in sub-woofer for Rp
\n1,665,000. Or you might go for a 21PT3323 (AV stereo) Philips,
\nthe price of which has just been cut by Rp 170,000 to Rp
\n1,525,000!<\/p>\n
What are the prices for 29-inch flat screen television sets?<\/p>\n
A market survey shows the Hitachi C29-F800 SNT type (Rp 3
\nmillion) is the most inexpensive Japanese brand 29-inch flat
\nscreen with full stereo. The Samsung CS-29K10 (full stereo) costs
\njust over Rp 3 million after being cut from Rp 3,150,000! The
\nSamsung CS-29A11 (full stereo) costs Rp 3,130,000.<\/p>\n
The most inexpensive 29-inch television sets are still those
\nmade in China. A 29EQ1 Changhong, a Chinese brand, costs Rp
\n2,825,000. This television, which has just been launched, is
\nprovided with a built-in super woofer, AV stereo and DVD input
\nterminal features.<\/p>\n
The result of a brand-based survey is as follows: LG offers
\nits products at quite competitive prices. They are the RT-29FA33R
\n(full stereo) Flatron, the price of which has just been slashed
\nby Rp 600,000 to Rp 3.3 million and the RT-29FA35R (full stereo)
\nFlatron, whose price has been cut by Rp 429,000 to Rp 3.3
\nmillion. There is also the RT-29FB55V (AV stereo) Flatron (Rp 3.3
\nmillion), RT-29FB75V AV Flatron (Rp 3,125,000) and the RT-29FD61R
\n(full stereo) Flatron (Rp 3,175,000). It should be noted that an
\nRT-29FD61R Flatron is LG's latest television with an ornamental
\nblack frame around the front.<\/p>\n
There are also interesting offers from Panasonic, a noted
\nJapanese brand. A Tau TC-29FG50M (full stereo with a black frame)
\nPanasonic sells for Rp 3,550,000, while the Tau TC-29FG20M (AV
\nstereo with a black frame) is available at Rp 3,430,000. Compare
\nthese two with a 29JZ6DE (full stereo) Toshiba, which costs Rp
\n3,675,000 after a drop of Rp 55,000, or a 29JZ5\/6EI (AV stereo)
\nToshiba, the price of which has been cut by Rp 100,000 to Rp
\n3,300,000, or a 29JZ5SI (full stereo) Toshiba, which sells for Rp
\n3,530,000.<\/p>\n
Another attractive offer comes from the 29EFG5 (full stereo),
\nwhich is available at the competitive price of Rp 3,275,000.
\nAnother alternative is a 29CFX5 (full stereo) Sharp, which costs
\nRp 3,350,000. If you can spend more, you may opt for a Wega KV-
\nAR29T80C Sony, which is sold for Rp 3,650,000. If you like
\nEuropean brands, Philips may be your choice: a 29PT3223 Philip
\ncosts Rp 3.1 million and a 29 29PT3323 Rp 3.3 million.<\/p>\n
If you have an unlimited budget, you may want a Sony that
\ncomes loaded with features. The Sony Wega KV-DR29M61 costs Rp
\n7,150,000 and has the following features: Full-Stereo, Tru
\nSurround, Progressive Scan and a DVD input terminal. Or you can
\npick up a Full-Stereo Wega KV-DR29M69, which, at Rp 7.7 million,
\ncomes with a built-in super woofer, Tru Surround, Progressive
\nScan, a DVD input terminal and a Multi PiP. Last but not least,
\nyou may set your eyes on a Plano CS-29Z7 Samsung, which is
\nconsidered the best value for money in the multimedia television
\ncategory. Selling for Rp 6.2 million, this set comes with the
\nfollowing features: a built-in Super Woofer, Full Stereo, Flicker
\nFree, Dolby Prologic Surround, a Progressive Scan, Multi PiP,
\nDNIe plus PC input and DVD input terminals.<\/p>\n
Selling its Plano CS-21K30 at Rp 1,480,000, Samsung obviously
\nhas gone below the psychological price threshold of Rp 1.5
\nmillion for a full-stereo 21-inch flat screen television set. So
\nthis year the new psychological threshold for mono 21-inch flat
\ntelevision sets made in Japan or Korea may be set at Rp 1.1
\nmillion! Meanwhile, a C29-F800SNT Hitachi is now right at the
\npsychological price threshold of Rp 3 million for full stereo 29-
\ninch flat screen television sets. It is just a matter of time
\nbefore this type is available at a price lower than this Rp 3
\nmillion psychological threshold. Samsung must be reckoned as a
\nprice leader. Selling for Rp 3.1 million, its Plano CS-29K10 is
\njust a niche above the lower psychological price threshold for
\n29-inch flat screen television sets.<\/p>\n
Surveys were conducted at Senen Elektronic, Victory
\nElectronic, AGIS and Carrefour between July 8 and July 11.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tv-prices-falling-despite-weaker-rupiah-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}