Rating: 
Summary: Fried within 3 Months
Review: I'm normally not one to take the time out of my day to write a review for something but I feel that if my bad experience here might save just one person from blowing their money the time is well spent. Everything that everyone else has said about this being a piece of junk is true. I was fortunate enough to get less than three months out of it before the screen turned into an hour glass shape and the colors got screwed up. I called one of the "service centers" nearby and they said they were no longer dealing with APEX because they would not honor his service bills and parts took forever to come in if they did at all. I've talked to Apex numerous times when I finally get through to them and they also lie to me and will constantly try their hardest to hang up on me. I'm about two seconds from working to turn them into the BBB. There has to be some kind of consumer protection we can use.
Rating: 
Summary: okay for the money
Review: Iv'e had this set for over 2 months. (I like Amazon but they do not take back TVs over 27" so I purchased elswhere just in case..) I have it paired with a Samsung SIR-T165 HDTV Over the air receiver and with a Zenith Silver Sensor HDTV antenna. I find the HD images to be excellent (esp. the PBS broadcasts) but the APEX shoots the Digital TV signal into a 16:9 box in the center of it's 4:3 screen. So, even with Digital content that is broadcast in 4:3, it appears inside the 16:9 box with bars on the side (as well as the top). Of course, you can watch this content through the analog AV inputs and it will fill the screen (but it won't be 1080i, it will be 480i which still looks very good) That's another thing, this set only displays 1080i in HD. No 720p, so regardless of what the signal is broadcast in, it "downconverts to 1080i" (quotation from the manual). The manual, by the way, is written in broken english. The overall construction of the TV feels a little bit cheap (the front panel that hides an additional set of inputs feels like it is about to break off) Changing from one set of inputs to another is a go forward only task that can take 25-30 seconds to get through to your destination. A back button would be helpful. Overall, it was a good purchase to get HDTV on a big screen for little money.
Rating:
Summary: okay for the money
Review: Iv'e had this set for over 2 months. (I like Amazon but they do not take back TVs over 27" so I purchased elswhere just in case..) I have it paired with a Samsung SIR-T165 HDTV Over the air receiver and with a Zenith Silver Sensor HDTV antenna. I find the HD images to be excellent (esp. the PBS broadcasts) but the APEX shoots the Digital TV signal into a 16:9 box in the center of it's 4:3 screen. So, even with Digital content that is broadcast in 4:3, it appears inside the 16:9 box with bars on the side (as well as the top). Of course, you can watch this content through the analog AV inputs and it will fill the screen (but it won't be 1080i, it will be 480i which still looks very good) That's another thing, this set only displays 1080i in HD. No 720p, so regardless of what the signal is broadcast in, it "downconverts to 1080i" (quotation from the manual). The manual, by the way, is written in broken english. The overall construction of the TV feels a little bit cheap (the front panel that hides an additional set of inputs feels like it is about to break off) Changing from one set of inputs to another is a go forward only task that can take 25-30 seconds to get through to your destination. A back button would be helpful. Overall, it was a good purchase to get HDTV on a big screen for little money.
Rating:
Summary: Do not buy
Review: This was by far the worst TV that I have ever purchased. The TV messed up within 2 weeks and Apex would not honor their warranty. I would never deal with this company again and advise anybody out there to not deal with this company.
Rating:
Summary: Do not buy
Review: This was by far the worst TV that I have ever purchased. The TV messed up within 2 weeks and Apex would not honor their warranty. I would never deal with this company again and advise anybody out there to not deal with this company.
Rating:
Summary: Comment on user reviews and the TV
Review: Week Nine: TV going strong and providing an excellent picture...I only wish it were 16:9 aspect ratio...other than that, I am satisfied.Week Three: Going on week three of ownership and I got the progressive scan Sony DVD hooked to the Apex Unit and all I have to say is the picture is movie theater quality or better. The TV faithfully reproduces what you would see in the theater and in some cases better. My one gripe would be that the picture is a little brighter but, then I have been watching direct view tv's for my entire life. I watched "Rockstar" on DVD this weekend and was very impressed with the picture quality. Once again I see a negative review of the TV and wonder if they purchased it through mail order, which I STRONGLY don't recommend. I suggest you go to the store and see what you are buying as I did. I repeat again that I would never buy a big screen tv via mail order...you are just asking for trouble in my opinion. Week One: I got my tv hooked up yesterday and must say that I am impressed with the analog cable signal. The non-progressive scan DVD's look great through an S-video connection. I am upgrading that to a progressive scan player today and will have an additional comment about it later for you. All I can say is I know Apex is low end electronics and not something I would normally buy considering I use Cambridge Audio Works speakers but, for the money I paid on this TV I got a good deal. I bought mine at Sears after having them price match Wal-Mart's price. I also sprang for the two year warranty from Sears just in case. Honestly, I would never buy a projection screen TV through mail order like the others did and I certainly would not jump at an "extreme" deal that some advertise because you are probably getting a refurb unit...same goes for buying something like this at Fingerhut or Heartland...the prices are so great because you are getting a refurb unit or scratch and dent unit. Frankly, a purchase like this should not be bought online or through mail order retailers...just my opinion. Pre-Purchase comments: I'd like to state that I went to Sears today and looked at the Apex GB43HD09 and was impressed with the picture it provides using a standard analog signal like cable tv. I would also like to comment on the others here that have slammed the Apex set. In all instances they have complained about a part breaking or going out...If they had these units shipped to them, I can see where they might experience such a problem...has anyone ever seen UPS ship things? A safe bet would be to pick the item up in person at the local store, like I intend on doing. That way, I know what I get and I know how it was handled in transit to my house. For the money, this TV is a good bargain.
One final note is that Apex uses many components found in Sony and Toshiba TV sets...in fact the menuing system is identical. They all get parts from Changhong Electronics.
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