TV prices falling despite weaker rupiah

Doharto J. Simatupang, Contributor, Jakarta

Though the rupiah has weakened against the U.S. dollar, the domestic audio-video market has not suffered. In fact, many electronic gadgets have become cheaper; a market anomaly, indeed!

The most glaring drop has been seen for 21-inch and 29-inch flat screen televisions. The flat screen TV market seems to be undergoing a very interesting fluctuation. Understandably, this is of interest to the public, especially those planning to buy a flat screen TV.

In the 21-inch flat screen market, if you are looking for something that doesn't cost much you may want to try an Ichiko 21M6F (AV stereo), which costs about Rp 950,000. For a more well- known brand, there is the Samsung Plano CS-21N30MJZ (mono), a new product that comes with a very modest design. The price is Rp 1,115,000, while its AV-stereo sibling costs Rp 1,250,000!

The most inexpensive Japanese-made 21-inch flat screen TVs come from Sanyo. The CG-21MF2 (AV stereo) has been reduced by Rp 158,000 to Rp 1,242,000, while the CG-21AF2 costs Rp 1,250,000 after its price was slashed by Rp 20,000.

Of all the brands competing in the 21-inch flat screen market, Samsung has been the most daring in cutting its prices. Take a look at a Samsung Plano CS-21S8ML (AV stereo), the price of which has dropped by Rp 50,000 to Rp 1,430,000. The Plano CS-21K30 (full stereo) costs Rp 1,480,000 (from Rp 1,580,000), a Plano CS- 21M16 (AV stereo) is Rp 1,380,000 (after being cut by Rp 70,000) and a Plano CS-21A11 (full stereo, DNIe Jr) now sells for Rp 1,530,000, a drop of Rp 70,000. The Plano CS-21T20MQ (full stereo, DNIe Jr) has been slashed by Rp 25,000 in price to Rp 1,550,000.

What about LG, Samsung's fellow Korean competitor? The prices of LG flat screen TVs with AV stereo are as follows: an LG Flatron RT-21FB70V costs Rp 1,430,000 (a drop of Rp 70,000) and the LG Flatron RT-RD-21FC91V sells for Rp 1,570,000.

If you wish to buy a full-stereo type you can have your choice of the following: an LG Flatron RT21FB70R at Rp 1,575,000 (a drop of Rp 105,000) and an LG Flatron RD-21FC91R at Rp 1,880,000 (a new product). Should you be interested in an economic money, the LG RT-21FB70M (mono) costs Rp 1,375,000 (a drop of Rp 50,000).

If you have enough money and are Japanese-brand-minded, you can buy either a Toshiba or a Sharp. A 51 VF 200 (AV stereo) Sharp, for example, is available at Rp 1,4690,000, a 21E-FG1 (AV stereo) Sharp at Rp 1,495,000, a 51ZF500B (full stereo) Sharp and a 51ZF288 S (AV stereo, built-in sub-woofer) Sharp at Rp 1,800,000.

If you wish to buy a Sharp TV with Plasma Cluster technology, your choice must be the 51ZPF200 S (AV stereo), which costs Rp 1,575,000 (having been reduced in price by Rp 175,000)!

A 21SZ5EI (AV stereo) Toshiba costs Rp 1,570,000 (a drop of Rp 180,000)! A 21SZ31 (mono) Toshiba costs Rp 1,370,000, a cut of Rp 225,000. You can compare these two types of Toshiba television sets with their nearest competitors, a Tau TC21FJ50M Panasonic (full stereo) at Rp 1,770,000 and a TC-21FJ20M (AV stereo) Panasonic at Rp 1,600,000.

The Wega KV-21HFV100 is the most expensive of the 21-inch flat screen television. With full stereo and tru surround (SRS), two external speakers, an FM tuner and a DVD input terminal, it costs Rp 3 million! Interested?

There are other brands that are no less attractive. You can pick up an MX5263RF (AV stereo) Polytron with a built-in VCD player for Rp 1,725,000 or an MX5265RF (full stereo) Polytron with a wireless headphone and a built-in sub-woofer for Rp 1,665,000. Or you might go for a 21PT3323 (AV stereo) Philips, the price of which has just been cut by Rp 170,000 to Rp 1,525,000!

What are the prices for 29-inch flat screen television sets?

A market survey shows the Hitachi C29-F800 SNT type (Rp 3 million) is the most inexpensive Japanese brand 29-inch flat screen with full stereo. The Samsung CS-29K10 (full stereo) costs just over Rp 3 million after being cut from Rp 3,150,000! The Samsung CS-29A11 (full stereo) costs Rp 3,130,000.

The most inexpensive 29-inch television sets are still those made in China. A 29EQ1 Changhong, a Chinese brand, costs Rp 2,825,000. This television, which has just been launched, is provided with a built-in super woofer, AV stereo and DVD input terminal features.

The result of a brand-based survey is as follows: LG offers its products at quite competitive prices. They are the RT-29FA33R (full stereo) Flatron, the price of which has just been slashed by Rp 600,000 to Rp 3.3 million and the RT-29FA35R (full stereo) Flatron, whose price has been cut by Rp 429,000 to Rp 3.3 million. There is also the RT-29FB55V (AV stereo) Flatron (Rp 3.3 million), RT-29FB75V AV Flatron (Rp 3,125,000) and the RT-29FD61R (full stereo) Flatron (Rp 3,175,000). It should be noted that an RT-29FD61R Flatron is LG's latest television with an ornamental black frame around the front.

There are also interesting offers from Panasonic, a noted Japanese brand. A Tau TC-29FG50M (full stereo with a black frame) Panasonic sells for Rp 3,550,000, while the Tau TC-29FG20M (AV stereo with a black frame) is available at Rp 3,430,000. Compare these two with a 29JZ6DE (full stereo) Toshiba, which costs Rp 3,675,000 after a drop of Rp 55,000, or a 29JZ5/6EI (AV stereo) Toshiba, the price of which has been cut by Rp 100,000 to Rp 3,300,000, or a 29JZ5SI (full stereo) Toshiba, which sells for Rp 3,530,000.

Another attractive offer comes from the 29EFG5 (full stereo), which is available at the competitive price of Rp 3,275,000. Another alternative is a 29CFX5 (full stereo) Sharp, which costs Rp 3,350,000. If you can spend more, you may opt for a Wega KV- AR29T80C Sony, which is sold for Rp 3,650,000. If you like European brands, Philips may be your choice: a 29PT3223 Philip costs Rp 3.1 million and a 29 29PT3323 Rp 3.3 million.

If you have an unlimited budget, you may want a Sony that comes loaded with features. The Sony Wega KV-DR29M61 costs Rp 7,150,000 and has the following features: Full-Stereo, Tru Surround, Progressive Scan and a DVD input terminal. Or you can pick up a Full-Stereo Wega KV-DR29M69, which, at Rp 7.7 million, comes with a built-in super woofer, Tru Surround, Progressive Scan, a DVD input terminal and a Multi PiP. Last but not least, you may set your eyes on a Plano CS-29Z7 Samsung, which is considered the best value for money in the multimedia television category. Selling for Rp 6.2 million, this set comes with the following features: a built-in Super Woofer, Full Stereo, Flicker Free, Dolby Prologic Surround, a Progressive Scan, Multi PiP, DNIe plus PC input and DVD input terminals.

Selling its Plano CS-21K30 at Rp 1,480,000, Samsung obviously has gone below the psychological price threshold of Rp 1.5 million for a full-stereo 21-inch flat screen television set. So this year the new psychological threshold for mono 21-inch flat television sets made in Japan or Korea may be set at Rp 1.1 million! Meanwhile, a C29-F800SNT Hitachi is now right at the psychological price threshold of Rp 3 million for full stereo 29- inch flat screen television sets. It is just a matter of time before this type is available at a price lower than this Rp 3 million psychological threshold. Samsung must be reckoned as a price leader. Selling for Rp 3.1 million, its Plano CS-29K10 is just a niche above the lower psychological price threshold for 29-inch flat screen television sets.

Surveys were conducted at Senen Elektronic, Victory Electronic, AGIS and Carrefour between July 8 and July 11.