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View Full Version : Wharfdale 28inch TV from Tescos (remember those)


groundzero
06-01-2002, 23:58
Ok, I dont know if this has already been posted, but heres my story.. a warning if you will!

About 14 months ago I bought one of those Wharfdale 28 inch widescreens from Tescos. And if I may add, a perfectly fine TV for £250 quid! Fine for DVDs, fine for everything actually!

This applies to anyone else who owns one of these.

Anyway.. there were 2 serious 'it will catch fire' faults on it. One was repaired. The second and most recent was a recall. Tescos called me last month and said it would be replaced. They were meant to also offer me a refund as an alternative. But the bloke forgot to tell us that. If they havent called you yet, then make sure you ask for the refund!!

The replacement is a Bush 28inch widescreen. Its fine.. its even got inbuilt on-digital decoder. Unfortunately. Its ends there. Only one scart socket, the Wharfdale had 2 and this scart doesn't cope with RGB.. only composite. This means that DVD and Sky Digital quality is comprimised oh and SEGA Dreamcasts (which are pure RGB) don't work at all.
Additionally any 60hz display, be it an NTSC dvd or the Dreamcast or PS2 in 60hz mode.. well, its black and white.

After several hours on the phone in pingpong "call this number", followed by 50 mins 'on-hold' to Tescos main helpline (not the recall helpline) fun.. I got a refund of 300 quid and they're coming to get it back.
(Not bad as I only payed 250 for the original telly!)

Basically.. if they haven't called you yet, remember the refund. If they're coming to deliver your TV soon, then ring em and ask em for the refund instead.

I took the 300 quid and 'invested' it in a nice 32 inch flat JVC.. far better!

Sanctuary
12-02-2002, 23:19
I had exactly the same experience, but I decided to go for the replacement TV instead (Bush Digital 6690D).

I'm really pleased with it. Not only does it have an integrated ITV digital box and modem, but it is also listed as costing £549 on the Tesco website. Considering I payed £280 (or whatever it was) for my Wharfedale 890 over a year ago.

There is only one scart socket, and it cannot display NTSC - but my DVD Player (Pioneer 535) converts NTSC to PAL anyway so its fine.

The DVD picture quality seems ok to me, I have my player set to output RGB and it seems to work (I don't know how to test if it really is working or not but it seems to).

Also I have a dreamcast, but I don't use a scart connector with it - and using it this way works fine, even in 60Hz mode.

It's seems odd that the ITV digital box supports RGB (which works) and the scart doesn't. Surely if my DVD player is set to RGB output then it must work?

It seems like a good swap to me.

John Jennings
13-02-2002, 17:45
Originally posted by groundzero
Only one scart socket, the Wharfdale had 2 and this scart doesn't cope with RGB.. only composite. This means that DVD and Sky Digital quality is comprimised oh and SEGA Dreamcasts (which are pure RGB) don't work at all.



Dreamcasts can definitely produce a composite signal. You can get composite cables with Scart adaptors on them. In fact, I think Dreamcasts come with those as default! To get an RGB signal you've got to go and buy a fully-wired Dreamcast -> Scart cable IIRC...

Mr Perfect
13-02-2002, 19:01
I got one of those new wharfedale widescreen TVs just after Christmas, it's a shame it's a revolting silver/grey colour and it looks way to big in my bedroom, but I haven't burnt to death yet. :D

Smiler
13-02-2002, 22:46
Just in case anyone is sitting at home now panicking, :D it is worth pointing out that this applies to the later model 890 and not the 850 which according to 2 sets of friends is still going on strong.


Another friend origonally got the 890 and accepted the £300 refund even though she paid £259. :D

If you have an 890 or M8 visit this site for info. http://www.rospa.co.uk/cms/STORE/Product%20Safety/wharf_files/wharf.htm


Smiler





Edit for typo's